Calling Grandparents by Their First Name
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Question
Hello, is it permissible to call grandparents by their first name with an added title, such as 'Grandpa Naftali', 'Grandma Dini'?
Answer
Hello,
In the presence of the grandparents, it is forbidden, and in their absence, one should be stringent and refer to them by their family name, such as Grandpa Cohen and Grandma Levi, because it is forbidden to call them by their first name due to the law of reverence.
Even if the grandfather calls himself that, such as saying to his grandchild 'Who is coming to Grandpa Naftali?', the grandchild is forbidden to call him that, and should call him 'Grandpa' only. [However, one should not protest against those who are lenient in this matter, as there are opinions that the law of honoring does not apply to grandparents].
However, if the grandparents forgive and agree to be called by their first name, it is permissible, as forgiveness is effective regarding reverence (and only in matters that are not degrading, forgiveness is not effective).
Source
See Charedim, Chapter 4, positive commandments of the Torah dependent on speech, and the glosses of R. Akiva Eiger on Shulchan Aruch, Siman 240, Section 24.
See also Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 240, Section 19. See also Chinuch (Mitzvah 212), Birkei Yosef (Siman 240, Section 13, in the name of Imrei Noam) and Gaon Y. Perla (in his commentary, Mitzvah 9).