100 Christmas baby names inspired by the festive season

Christmas is special, but Christmas with the expected arrival of your bundle of joy is spectacular. From Santa Claus, jingle bells and sparkling lights to surprise gifts and delicious food – it’s certainly the most wonderful time of the year. So if you’re having a Christmas baby, why not choose a name that captures the spirit of the season?

Christmas can provide lots of inspiration for unique baby names. From subtle options inspired by hymns, carols, and your favourite Christmas TV shows and movies, to names that scream all things Yuletide, there are some great Christmas-themed names for both girls and boys.

So we've trawled through the latest baby name data as well as collating the festive baby names loved by parents on the Mumsnet forums to bring you the top 100 Christmas baby names of the year.

What is a Christmas baby name?

A Christmas baby name is a name that's associated with the festive season and is often inspired by elements of Christmas, such as religious figures, symbols or traditions. Some examples of Christmas baby girl names include Holly, Ivy and Noëlle, which is derived for the French word for Christmas. For boys, it's festive names like Gabriel, Nicholas or even Rudolph.

If your baby is due in December, you're of course not bound to a Christmas baby name. You could go for an instant year-round hit and choose a really popular name, like Noah or Olivia, the most popular names for boys and girls in the UK respectively according to the ONS data.

But if you're leaning towards a more festive moniker for your Christmas baby, here’s a list of the top Christmas baby names of all time to help you decide.

Christmas baby girl names

1. Abigail - how about this Biblical name for your daughter? In the Old Testament, Abigail was the name of King David’s third wife and it means ‘my father is joyful’

2. Avery - This is a beautiful Christmas name for girls that means ‘Christmas elves’, and signifies wisdom and diligence

3. Angelina - This subtle variation of the names angel and Angela sounds festive without sounding over the top. It means ‘angel’

4. Anya - In the movie Santa Claus, Anya was Mrs. Claus’s first name. It’s an exotic Russian variation of Anna and means ‘grace’

5. Audrey - Any fan of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation will know that this is the name of the youngest Griswold daughter, and it means 'noble'

6. Belle - In Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol, the first holiday TV programme, Belle was the name of the long lost love of Scrooge’s. Belle means 'beautiful' in French

7. Berry - why not name your baby girl after the fruit found abundantly during Christmas?

8. Beth - as in Bethlehem, the city where Jesus Christ was born, would be a lovely festive name. It’s a diminutive of Elizabeth and means ‘pledged to God’

9. Cady - derives from the French word ‘cadeau‘, which means ‘present’

10. Carol - throughout the holiday season, Christmas carols can be heard in the streets, churches and at parties

11. Christina - from the word Christian, Christina was at the summit of popularity in the 1980s. It means 'follower of Christ'

12. Cindy - Cindy Lu is the character from How the Grinch Stole Christmas

13. Clara - this vintage name means 'bright' and is the name of the little girl in The Nutcracker

14. Clarice - Clarice is the name of the female reindeer who likes Rudolf just the way he is, even with the red nose. It means 'bright' or 'clear'

15. Clementine - the origin of this name does not lie in Christmas. Of French descent, it means ‘merciful’ - not a bad value to espouse during the festive season. But it’s during Christmas time these yummy oranges are abundant

16. Eira - the feminine form of Aneirin, meaning ‘very snowy’… Not that we see much of it in the UK!

17. Eve - this traditional Hebrew, Christmas inspired baby girl name has everything you want: simplicity, strength, biblical roots, and loads of power. Eve means 'enlivening'

18. Faith - meaning ‘trust’ or ‘belief’, Faith is a lovely choice as a holiday-inspired name

19. Ginger - because gingerbread is a staple food item during Christmas. The name Ginger means 'pure'

20. Gloria - taken from the word 'glory' Gloria features in several Christmas hymns and carols

21. Holly - this English name refers to the plant with red berries that is often found in Christmas decorations throughout the festive season

22. Hope - the word name Hope denotes the expectations of believers in the eternal life and resurrection

23. Ivy - is also an evergreen plant that’s common during Christmas

24. Jemima - this unique name means 'dove', and in the Bible, Jemima was the name of Job’s eldest daughter

25. Josephine - the name Josephine is a girl’s name of French origin meaning ‘Jehovah increases’

26. Jovie - a modern Christmas name for girls, Jovie is taken from the holiday movie Elf in which Buddy falls in love with a girl named Jovie

27. Joy - a girl named Joy is sure to bring happiness to everyone around her. This Christmas baby girl name is in steady use, especially in the middle

28. Lucy - this Latin name, meaning ‘light or shiny’ conjures images of twinkling lights we see in and around our houses

29. Marley - is the name of the ghost in Disney’s Mickey’s Christmas Carol and means ‘pleasant wood’

30. Mary - how can we not mention the mother who gave birth to the child whom Christmas celebrates?

31. Merry - this cheerful name is often chosen as an alternative to Mary and also works well as a middle name

32. Natalia - this French name means ‘born at Christmas’. It doesn’t get much more apt than this

33. Natalie - means ‘birthday of the Lord’ and is a favourite for baby girls born during or on Christmas

34. Natasha - this Russian version of Natalie means ‘born on Christmas’

35. Noëlle (or Noël) - this chic Christmas name is French, and it literally means ‘Christmas’ so it’s a perfect festive baby name for girls born over the holidays

36. Nor - capture the essence of this bright and cheery season with the name Nora, which means ‘light’

37. Olive - inspired by the movie Olive, the Other Reindeer. A great option for parents who don’t wish to choose an overtly feminine name

38. Paloma - meaning ‘dove’ and featured in the song 12 Days of Christmas

39. Snow - a little unconventional but snow is literally white, and who doesn’t love a snow-globe at Christmas time!

40. Star - stars are a Christmas symbol, so why not name your daughter after this celestial object? Cute pictures to be taken

41. Stella - mark your daughter’s arrival by naming her Stella, which means ‘star’. It will refer to the star of Bethlehem mentioned in Christmas tales

42. Tiffany - Tiffany derived from the medieval English name Theophania and means ‘appearing from God’ in Greek

43. Virginia - paying homage to the Virgin Mary, the name Virginia means 'chaste'

44. Winter - just like other noun or word names, Winter is also on the rise. Harlow Winter Kate, the American actress put this seasonal name on the map. A spelling variation of this name is Wynter

45. Zuzu - Zuzu is the name of Jimmy Stewart’s adorable daughter in It’s a Wonderful Life. A name with loads of pizzazz, Zuzu means 'lily'

46. Clio - of Greek origin. Clio was the Mythological Muse of historic poetry and means ‘to celebrate’, and who doesn’t love a Christmas celebration?

47. Jolee - of French origin, meaning ‘cheerful. Santa is the jolliest of them all, which is why this unique festive name is perfect for Christmas babies

48. Pandora - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘gift’. Say what you want about the festival of materialism, we all love receiving gifts at Christmas time, and what better gift than a new baby with a beautiful festive name?

49. Tinsel - of French origin, meaning ‘sparkly’. Tinsel is sparkly and special, as we hope your new baby will be!

50. Lucia - of Latin origin, meaning ‘light’

What Mumsnetters say about Christmas girl names

"Natalie (means born at Christmas). It's certainly got a modern feel, but I wouldn't say it was a modern name. Maybe Natalia as an alternative" - Mumsnet user, Awwlookatmybabyspider

"I would say Holly is a classic name, whereas Hollie is more 90s. Holly is a lovely name. I think I would only choose it for a winter-born baby" - Mumsnet user, Adultchildofelderlyparents

Christmas baby boy names

51. Abner - this Biblical name means ‘father of light’, and was very popular in the 1880s

52. Alfredo - this name references the elves that work hard to make Christmas presents for little ones. It’s the Spanish version of Alfred and means ‘elf counsellor’

53. Arthur - Arthur was Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus’ son in the movie Arthur Christmas and means ‘noble’ or ‘courageous’

54. Bailey - of English origin, meaning ‘berry clearing’ or ‘city fortification’. Is it Christmas if you haven’t had Baileys?

55. Balthazar - Balthazar, also spelled as Balthasar, is the name of one of the Three Wise Men who brought gifts to baby Jesus. Balthazar means ‘Baal protects the king’

56. Caleb - the religious ties of Caleb make it an appealing Christmas name. Caleb means ‘devotion to God’

57. Bob - of British origin, meaning ‘bright’ or ‘fame’. Bob Cratchit works for Scrooge in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol - a wonderful redemptive festive story

58. Celyn - of French origin, from the Welsh word for holly. Holly and Christmas time go hand in hand

59. Charlie - an ideal name for fans of the classic Christmas movie, A Charlie Brown Christmas

60. Christian - No other name can proclaim your faith more than this moniker. Christian means 'follower of Christ'

61. Christophe - St. Christopher, the patron saint of travellers is believed to have carried baby Jesus across the river. It means ‘bearer of Christ’

62. Clark - the name of the head of the dysfunctional Griswold family in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

63. Clarence - of Latin origin, meaning ‘bright’. Clarence is also the name of the guardian Angel of George in the Christmas movie, It's a Wonderful Life

64. Claus -  both Claus, and its spelling variant Klaus, would make a cool name for your son. It began as a nickname for the name Nicholas, which we believe, explains the name Santa Claus (Saint Nicholas). This name means ‘people’s victory’

65. Clement - this name will honour Clement Moore, the writer of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, which gave us the names for each of the eight reindeer

66. Clove - a unisex Christmas name, and a very festive spice, this name means ‘nail’

67. Dasher - of Scottish and German origin and of course the name of one of the reindeer, meaning ‘purse marker’

68. David - Cecil Frances Alexander’s poem inspires the classic carol, Once in Royal David’s City. What a gorgeous festive name for your son!

69. Drummer - after the popular Christmas song ‘Little Drummer boy’

70. Ebenezer - most recognisable as the name of Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer can be shortened to Eben and means ‘stone of help’

71. Elden - meaning 'from the elves valley”. And it’s one of the least familiar festive names too!

72. Emmanuel - the biblical name given to Messiah, it's a worthy contender for a Christmas baby name. It means ‘God is with us’

73. Forest - inspired by the traditional English carol Down in Yon Forest, the name Forest means ‘woodman’ or ‘wood’

74. Frank - Frank as in Frankincense, one of the gifts Balthazar gave to Mary when Jesus was born. This warm, friendly name means ‘free man’ or ‘French man’

75. Frederick - Frederick, or Fred Claus, is the older brother of Santa Claus. His name means ‘ruler'

76. Gabriel - anyone familiar with the nativity story will know that Gabriel is the archangel who informs Mary that she was going to give birth to the son of God. Gabriel means ‘God is my strength’

77. Jack - This baby name is inspired by Mr. Jack Frost, of course. This durable and cheery form of John means ‘God is gracious’

78. Jasper - Jasper is the modern English form of the name used by one of the three wise men and is perfect for parents seeking a baby boy name with biblical roots. The name itself is Persian in origin and means ‘treasurer’

79. Joseph - in the Bible, Joseph is the carpenter whom God chose to father Jesus. This Hebrew baby name is famous in all English speaking countries, and it means ‘increase’ or ‘addition’

80. Luke - in the Old Testament, the Gospel of Luke gives the longest account of the nativity story. It narrates the incident when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, and the name means ‘light giving’

81. Malachi - this name refers to the angels in the nativity scene, and means ‘messenger’

82. Melchior - one of the three wise men who visited baby Jesus, and it means ‘city of the king’

83. Nicholas - Ah, inspired by old Saint Nicholas himself – Santa Claus! St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children and the name means ‘people’s victory’

84. Pax - this festive baby name means ‘peaceful’

85. Rudolph - why not name your child after Santa’s most famous reindeer? The name itself means ‘fame’ or ‘wolf’, and as a nickname you could shorten it to Rudy

86. Snowden - is an English name, and it means ‘from the snowy hill’

87. Tannen - derived from the German word for ‘pine’, Tannen is the shortened version of Tannenbaum. The name features in the carol, ‘O Tannenbaum’, but to make it more modern you can shorten it to Tannen, or Tannon. The name itself means ‘fir tree’

88. Theodore - a suitable name for a Christmas baby, Theodore (or Theo for short) means ‘gift of God’ and is of Greek origin

89. Timothy - a classic Christmas name, immortalised in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The name Timothy means ‘honouring God’

90. Waite - this middle English name comes from the practice of calling carolers Waits as the tradition began with a group of watchmen singing tunes. Waite means ‘guard’

91. Wenceslas - if a traditional name interests you, Wenceslas could be a good choice for you. It is the name of the good king who attended the feast of Stephen, and it means ‘greater glory’

92. Yule - the origin of the name Yule stems back to Old English, and it means ‘winter solstice’

93. Isaac - of Hebrew origin, derived from the name ‘Yitzchaq’, which comes from the Hebrew word ‘tzachaq’, meaning ‘laughter’ – and what is Christmas if not an occasion to be merry?

94. Jacob - of Hebrew origin and a popular biblical boy’s name, meaning ‘supplanter’. Bit of a ghostly one, recalling Jacob Marley from the Christmas Carol. But who wouldn’t want a festive name with links to the great Charles Dickens?

95. Jesus - of Hebrew origin. Perhaps the most famous of all Christmas names, that of Christ himself, meaning ‘to rescue’

96. Lumi - another unisex festive baby name. A lovely name, meaning ‘light-bringer’ or ‘snow’

97. Ner - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘candle’ or ‘light’. In the Middle Ages candles were used to represent the Star of Bethlehem. An unusual festive name, but we’re sure it will lighten up your Christmas!

98. Noel - the ultimate festive baby name, literally meaning ‘Christmas’. It comes from the French word Noël

99. Nico - an Italian variant of Nicholas, recalling Saint Nick himself!

100. Steven - of English origin, meaning ‘crown’. This one recalls the iconic carol, ‘Good King Wenceslas'

What Mumsnetters say about Christmas boy names

"I’d use Christmas as a reason to use one of my favourite names, which DH has previously veto’ed - Gabriel" - Mumsnet user, IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads

"I'd hate to have to write their birthday cards with Christmas names
'To Jesus, Happy Birthday, love Mummy" - Mumsnet user, feb2022

How to name your baby

About the author

Laura Westerman is an editor, writer and Deputy Head of Editorial Content at Mumsnet, overseeing the website's baby and pregnancy content. She is mum to a one-year-old.

With over seven years' experience as a full-time editor and a passion for SEO, Laura has written extensively on everything from parenting to travel, but likes nothing more than researching the best and most unique baby names, as well as their fascinating origins, to help parents decide on the perfect moniker for their new arrival.