The holiday season is just around the corner. What is a better way to get into the spirit than naming your very own reindeer?
Here are 57 of the best reindeer names to help you get into the festive mood. We’re listing Santa’s reindeer names and some new reindeer name ideas you’ve never heard of before.
When most people think of reindeer, the first thing that comes to mind is probably Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. However, there is a lot more to these creatures than just their shiny noses.
Reindeers are native to Europe, Asia, and North America. Reindeers are very well-adapted to cold climates.
They are also the only deer species in which both sexes grow antlers. Both male and female reindeer shed their antlers each year.
What are the names of Santa’s reindeer?
Santa’s original reindeer names originate from Clement C. Moore’s poem A Visit from St. Nicholas from 1823. Rudolph wasn’t one of the original ones, but he appeared in 1939.
Here are all of Santa’s reindeer names in alphabetical order:
| Blitzen | This name means “lightning” in German, making it perfect for one of Santa’s fastest reindeer. |
| Comet | He was named after the comet that appeared in the sky when he was born. This reindeer is sure to be a shining star! |
| Cupid | This reindeer’s name refers to the Roman god of love. He was often depicted as a cherub with a bow and arrow. |
| Dancer | The name “Dancer” perfectly fits this playful reindeer who loves dancing! |
| Dasher | This name means “to move quickly”. Dasher is one of Santa’s fastest reindeer! |
| Donner | Donner means “thunder” in German. This reindeer will make a big noise when he lands on your roof on Christmas Eve! |
| Prancer | The name Prancer is derived from the verb “prance”. It means “to spring forward on the hind legs”, and it’s usually used for a horse. Prancer is a happy member of Santa’s pack! |
| Rudolph | Rudolph is the most famous reindeer that pulls Santa Claus’s sleigh. Since his first appearance in Robert L. May’s book Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in 1939, Rudolph has been celebrated as a hero. |
| Vixen | This name is used for female reindeer, which are also referred to as “cows.” Vixen means “a flirtatious woman”. And indeed, Vixen is sure to catch the attention of male reindeer! |
Other reindeer names
There’s no doubt that Santa’s reindeer names are the most famous ones. But they’re not the only options!
There are many other funny reindeer names that are full of Christmas spirit.
Here are some of our favorite name ideas for both girl and boy reindeer:
Male reindeer names
| Aslak | A male name that originates from the old Norse. It means “a supporter of Thorgest”. |
| Boreas | “North wind” (Greek) |
| Buck | “Male deer” (English) |
| Claus | Inspired by Santa Claus. |
| Nicholas | The name of Father Christmas, aka Santa Claus. |
| Niko | A Finnish boy’s name. The reindeer Niko is the protagonist in the animated films Niko & the Way to the Stars and Little Brother, Big Trouble: A Christmas Adventure. |
| Noel | A boy’s name that means “born on Christmas” (French). |
| Pyry | A Finnish male name that means “blizzard”. |
| Ragnar | “Warrior or judgment” (Scandinavian) |
| Sven | Kristoff’s reindeer companion in the animated Disney film Frozen. |
Female reindeer names
| Ailu | A Sami female name. A popular reindeer name in Finland. |
| Aurora | Inspired by the stunning northern lights (Aurora Borealis in Latin). They’re often seen in the winter in the natural habitats of reindeer. |
| Blanca | A female name that means “white” in Spanish. This is a fitting name for a rare white reindeer. The indigenous Sami people in Lapland believe that a white reindeer brings luck to its owner. |
| Carol | Means “joyful song”. Christmas carols inspired this name. |
| Crystal | “Ice” (Greek origin) |
| Doe | “Female deer” (English) |
| Elsa | After the frosty princess in the Disney film Frozen. |
| Lumi | A Finnish girl’s name that means “snow”. |
| Nathalie | “Born on Christmas Day” (French origin) |
| Noella | “Christmas” (French) |
| Reina | “Queen” (Spanish). A fitting name for a majestic reindeer! |
| Saga | “She who sees everything” (Scandinavian origin) |
| Skadi | The goddess of winter in Norse myths. |
| Svetlana | “Star” (Russian) |
Winter names for reindeer
- Arctica
- Avalanche
- Blizzard
- February
- Frost
- January
- Mitten
- North
- Polar
- Snow
- Snowball
- Tundra
Christmas-themed names for reindeer
- Candy
- December
- Ginger
- Glimmer
- Jingle
- Merry
- Mistletoe
- Peppermint
- Sparkle
- Star
- Tinsel
- Yule
Reindeer FAQ
What are good names for a reindeer?
The most popular reindeer names are Santa’s reindeer Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Dancer, Dasher, Donner, Prancer, Rudolph, and Vixen.
Other good names for reindeer are related to Christmas, snow, and winter. Some examples include Jingle, Snowball, and Blizzard.
What is a vixen reindeer?
Vixen is the only female reindeer that pulls Santa’s sleigh.
What are Santa’s reindeer’s genders?
Originally, it has been thought that all Santa’s reindeer except for Vixen are male.
But according to science, Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Dancer, Dasher, Donner, Prancer, Rudolph, and Vixen, are all female! That is because male reindeer shed their antlers before Christmas. Only female reindeer still have their antlers at Christmas.
I hope you loved these reindeer names! If you still need more inspiration, you might also like our post on the best penguin names.
