# Poll: What do you call your parents? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 4, 2006, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412 "2006-05-04T17:08:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![El\_Perro\_Fumando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e9c0ed/32.png) [@El\_Perro\_Fumando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Perro_Fumando)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/21 "2006-05-04T19:20:59Z")
Mom and Dad, except for the “'EY MA!”/“WHAT?” when I’m shouting across the house for my mother. Can you feel the love? 22 Maryland ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/22 "2006-05-04T19:23:56Z")
We were raise to call them Mama and Papa, but as soon as that started sounding babyish we switched to Mom and Pop. Pop is always “Pop” but Mom is sometimes “Ma”. Female, MidAtlantic states. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/23 "2006-05-04T19:27:18Z")
Mom and Dad I’m from Michigan. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/24 "2006-05-04T19:45:34Z")
Mama and Daddy Male 32 Northwestern Louisiana Gemini ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/25 "2006-05-04T19:59:39Z")
Mom and Daddy female 37 California ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/26 "2006-05-04T20:09:09Z")
Mom is “Betty.” Dad was “Arch.” Using first names was their idea. I hated it. I am female, 58 years old, in Oklahoma. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/27 "2006-05-04T20:11:02Z")
Mom and his first name (no idea why, it’s just evolved) Female Midwest ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/28 "2006-05-04T20:20:08Z")
Mum and Dad Female 32 New Zealand ---
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/29 "2006-05-04T20:27:29Z")
Mom (sometimes Momma) and Dad (frequently Daddoo, sometime Daddy. In greeting, it’s usually Momma & Daddoo. After that, it’s Mom & Dad.) Female, 28 West Coast My mom calls her parents Mother and Daddy, or by their first names. My dad calls/ed his parents Mom & Dad. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/30 "2006-05-04T20:37:28Z")
Heh. What don’t I call my parents? It depends on the situation. Usually it’s Mom and Dad, but it might switch to Mama and Daddy at any time. Occasionally Mommy and Daddy slips out, especially if I’ve been talking to my older sister and then have to refer to them in the third person. I usually call my dad “Daddy” if I’m asking him a question, and if I want him to buy me a book or a milkshake, then it’s Big Daddy Kitten, because I am not above using childhood nicknames to get what I want. (And because, well, he’s my daddy and I love him. If it makes him smile, then I’ll do it.) My mom occasionally calls my dad “Papa.” It’s a little weird. My fourth grade teacher thought I was mildly retarded because I still called my parents Mama and Daddy. Pssst, old biddy. Female, 21 SW Wisconsin ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/31 "2006-05-04T20:42:51Z")
**Eleanor of Aquitaine,** when I was in kindergarten or 1st grade, my dad told me that I was too old to call my mom “mommy”. Looking back, I think he was probably a bit premature but not too much. He also told me that it was OK to call dads “daddy” no matter how old you are. I’d guess your son will change his name for you soon enough. I wouldn’t push him. \*\*pinkfreud, \*\* I grew up in Tulsa too and I never heard any of my friends call their parents by their first names (except sarcastically). And Arch and Betty?? 😃 The jokes are just too easy. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/32 "2006-05-04T20:56:22Z")
Mom & Dad Male 36 MA, grew up in ME ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/33 "2006-05-04T21:11:57Z")
I call my mother by her first name; Velma. I’m 44. My father is deceased. My 15 year old daughter is going through phases. For the longest time she called me Faja (with a soft “J”). Lately she’s been calling me “Father”. :rolleyes: It mostly cracks me up. My older daughter calls me Diddy, and she was recently very excited to realize that my fiancee’s name is Kathy, and she’ll be able to call us “Diddy and Kitty”. Funny kids. ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/34 "2006-05-04T21:13:16Z")
Ma and Papa, although lately I’ve taken to calling them the Aged Parents (yes, to their faces, and yes, they appreciate the humour). Male, 25, parents in India. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/35 "2006-05-04T21:14:22Z")
Mom & Dad. When I was little, it was Mommy and Dad. Dad wouldn’t let me call him Daddy because I pronounced it incorrectly. I was four or five at the time. 1. Chicago area. ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/36 "2006-05-04T21:21:17Z")
Mom (or Ma) and Pa, formerly Mama and Papa My father insisted that my sisters and I call his parents by the Italian titles Nonna and Nonno, which I’m not sure my they appreciated. My cousins called our grandparents Mama and Papa. I’m pretty sure that my father wants to be called Nonno by his grandchildren, too. female, 33, Rhode Island ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/37 "2006-05-04T21:43:37Z")
> [@KRM](#): > > Mom and Dad > Male > Midwest US Likewise, though “Mom” gets shortened to “Ma” on occasion. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/38 "2006-05-04T21:44:13Z")
Ann and Jonathan. 30 year old male, born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/39 "2006-05-04T22:00:56Z")
Mum & Dad Australian male, 41 ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412/40 "2006-05-04T22:02:30Z")
Mama and Daddy, which is what my mother called hers as well. My father called his parents Muh & Dah (which I understand is common in Ireland but for him it was what he called them as babies and it just stuck). All of the old people in my family (the ones born in the 19th century) may refer to “my daddy said so & so” but they all called him ‘Papa’, then in the mid20th century the family almost as one switched to referring to fathers as Daddy and reserving Papa for grandfathers. I’m not sure how common this was. I’ve never known a southerner who referred to their parents as Ma and Pa. I’m sure they exist, but Mama is pretty much timeless and fathers have usually been Papa or Daddy (with the occasional wildcards of Mother and Father, but that’s rare everywhere I think). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-call-your-parents/355412.md?page=3)