December baby names combine the best of the winter season, holidays, and more.
If you’re expecting a child at the very end of the year, this list might include the perfect name.
Table of Contents
GIRL NAMES
AMARYLLIS
Known for blooming in December, Amaryllis is an unexpected floral name.
ANGELA, ANGELICA
Ultimately from the Greek angelos – meaning angel or messenger – this is a name intertwined with the Christmas story. The angel Gabriel told Mary to expect the birth of Jesus; later, choirs of angels appeared at his birth. It’s seasonal and spiritual.
ANYA
Fans of 1997’s animated adventure Anastasia might think of this name. It’s a fantasy re-telling of the youngest daughter of former Russian ruling family, the Romanovs. The lost princess, now known simply as Anya, sings “Once Upon a December” when she enters the abandoned Winter Palace.
BELLE
I heard the bells on Christmas Day. Carol of the bells. Silver bells. It’s a symbol of the season, and while it’s associated with Christmas, Belle seems like a December-ready choice.
CLARA
Clara comes from the Latin word clarus, meaning clear, bright or famous. The associations with bright and light almost make it a seasonal option. But it’s used across European languages, thanks to Saint Clare – Chiara in Italian, a thirteenth-century companion of Saint Francis of Assisi. It’s Clare in English, though French spelling Claire is more popular in the US now. But Clara tops the list of December baby names thanks to the little girl at the heart of holiday ballet classic, The Nutcracker. That makes it a great choice for a subtle nod to the season.
CLEMENTINE
Once upon a time, finding oranges in our stockings was the great delight. A name like Clementine recalls that lost tradition. (Though chocolate oranges are still a thing.)
CHRISTINA
While it’s really not limited to the festive season, Christina – and Christine and Kristen and company – suggest Christmas and Kris Kringle.
DOVE
A symbol of peace, often used during the holidays and new year.
EVE
As in both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, back-to-back celebrations in the month of December.
HOLLY
The flower most strongly associated with December.
NOELLE
The French word word for Christmas. Related names like Noelia are also options.
PALOMA
A Spanish name meaning dove, a symbol associated with peace and the month of December.
BOY NAMES
ARCHER
Astrology tells us that December is under the sign of Sagittarius – at least through the 21st. That’s the archer. In mythology, it’s associated with Chiron, a centaur who mentored the hero Achilles. An arrow is the typical symbol for the sign.
BALTHAZAR
The names of the Three Wise Men don’t appear in the Bible, but by custom, we’ve come to call them Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar. Appropriate names for this season of gift-giving.
EBEN
It’s hard to escape Ebenezer Scrooge and Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol during December. Eben is the first part of that Hebrew name; it means stone of help. Ebenezer is a lot to put on a kid, but Eben feels sleek, interesting, and yes, quietly seasonal, too.
FLETCHER
Another nod to the sign of Sagittarius. It’s a surname for a maker of arrows, from the the French fleche – arrow.
JACK
We attribute all that wintry weather to Jack Frost. We sometimes consider it a Christmas baby name, but it’s really more of an icy, seasonal one that makes those cold mornings a little more magical.
JASPER
The Three Kings’ names don’t appear in the original story in the Bible. Over the years, we’ve come to know them as Melchior, Balthazar, and Caspar. Or Gaspard. Or Jasper. That last one might be one of the most approachable choices on this list.
NICHOLAS
Yes, it’s a classic for every day of the year. But because Santa Claus is also Jolly Old Saint Nicholas – Saint Nicholas of Myra – it’s logical to list Nicholas with December baby names. His feast day isn’t December 25th, though – it’s the sixth, when children leave out their shoes to be filled with candy and small treats.
NOEL
The French word for Christmas. We tend to rhyme it with Cole in English, but that could make it more accessible.
TIMOTHY
Inspired by Tiny Tim. Like Eben, it’s a name from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. He’s the good-as-gold character with the final line: God bless us, Every one!”
UNISEX NAMES
ARROW
A sharp and modern name, and another nod to the symbole of Sagittarius.
AVERY
A modern surname name, Avery refers to elves. It comes from older English and German names meaning either “elf counsel” or “elf king.” While we often picture elves as diminutive figures making toys at the North Pole, the elves of the ancient world could be helpful or dangerous.
BLUE
Depending on the list, December’s birthstone might be blue topaz or turquoise. So while Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas” is a lament, it’s a sparkling blue that puts this colorful name on the list.
DECEMBER
The name of the month makes an obvious choice. It’s not nearly as common as April or June, but it feels wearable. For a son, shorten it to Dex. For a daughter, it becomes Decca or Deci – or maybe even Ember, Emmy, or Demi.
HOLLIS
Inspired by seasonal bloom, holly.
MARLEY
As in Jacob Marley, of A Christmas Carol. Though modern parents probably think first of Bob Marley. The Jamaican reggae legend recorded White Christmas, so there’s also that.
NORTH
As in all things wintry and cold, but also beautiful.
ROBIN, ROBYN
Cheerful red-breasted robins have been associated with the Christmas season for ages.
SOLSTICE
As in the winter solstice, which falls on December 21st in the northern hemisphere.
WINTER
The solstice brings the official start of Winter, a unisex choice that feels like an obvious December possibility.
MORE DECEMBER BABY NAMES
CADEAU, PLUM, STELLA, ZUZU
Christmas inspired baby girl names feel festive and surprising.
DOROTHY, JESSE, MATTHEW, THEODORE, THEODORA and MORE
Names that mean gift, many of them quite traditional.
DRUMMER, FROST, LINUS, RALPHIE
Baby boy names inspired by Christmas time blend fun with meaning.
IVY, LUMI, SNOW
Girl names perfect for winter, mix warmth and seasonal beauty.
PHOEBE, SEREN, LUX
Names for our daughters that suggest light and glow are uplifting choices as the days grow short.
TURQUOISE, NAVY, SKY
Because of the association between blue gemstones and the month of December, many of the names meaning blue might work nicely.
WHITAKER, SHEPHERD, PAX
Winter names for boys walk the line between popular Christmas images – looking at you, Shepherd – and straight-up wintry themes.
Gorgeous names. I’ll add Natalie, Natalia, and Natasha as the ultimate Christmas name! Also Merry or Mary, Gabriel, Cole or Nico from Nicholas/Nicolas, Joseph, Capri from Capricorn, Ever from Evergreen, Esther, Estelle, Estée, or Nova for star, Carol, Aubrey for elf, Scarlett, Felix or Felicity, Lucia/Lucille/Lucy, Bianca, Faith, Hope, Joy, Jovie, Apricity is the sun in winter. And I love Neve for snow.
I would add Casper (like Jasper) – one of the 3 wise men. This is my little nephew’s name, although he wasn’t born in December.