Nana vs. Nanna
“Nana” and “nanna” are both established informal family words for a grandmother. Collins lists nan, nana, and nanna in British English, so the choice is usually a family, regional, or personal spelling preference rather than a difference in meaning.
Both “nana” and “nanna” are established spellings for an informal word meaning grandmother. Use the spelling your family, person, or publication consistently prefers.
Key details
Further guidance
Boundary
Do not “correct” a person’s established family name purely to force one dictionary-listed variant over another.
Choice
Use “nana” or “nanna” consistently when it is the established family or personal form.
Meaning
Both forms can function as an informal child/family word for a grandmother.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Nan definition and meaning (opens in a new tab)HarperCollins Publishers · Current dictionary evidence that British nan, nana, and nanna are child/family words for grandmother