Winter Holiday Baby Names: The Ultimate List of Lists

Winter holiday baby names range from the straight-up Christmas-y (think Holly or Nicholas) to the subtle nature names that nod to the season.

Why use a seasonally-inspired choice? Maybe you’ve got a great first, but want a middle that celebrates the season of your child’s birth. (I still wish I’d thought to use Frost for my December-born son’s middle!) Or maybe you’re stuck for any ideas at all, in which case this list makes a great jumping off point. While not every Natalie or Jasper was born during the winter holidays, it might be extra-meaningful if that’s the case for your family.

This list of lists rounds up some of the best winter holiday baby names you can find anywhere.

Winter Holiday Baby Names: Inspired by Christmas

The biggest list of names belongs to Christmas, from the spiritual to the pop culture-generated.

• From Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas” to Dean Martin’s “Marshmallow World,” favorite holiday favorites from the radio can inspire a great name or three.
• Curious about the most popular of Christmas-inspired baby names? Kelli does the math.
• Some unconventional options for Catholic parents welcoming an Advent baby. Rory even makes this list!
• And for a more traditional approach, let’s look at the names of the Holy Family.
• An unexpected list both sacred and subtle: The O Antiphons. Because Stella, Sage, and King can all be seasonal choices.
• My favorite unconventional Christmas baby names for girls, and a list for boys, too.
• Glory, Yule, December, and more options. A few, like Mary and Noelle, appear on lots of lists. But there are some fun ones sprinkled in, too.
• Another broad list, with plenty of ideas.

Winter Holiday Baby Names: Inspired by Hanukkah

Beyond Christmas, December is also the month for Hanukkah. Name options abound!

• This list explores Hanukkah names from an Israeli perspective.
• Another long list, with some surprising options.

Winter Holiday Baby Names: Inspired by Kwanzaa

Some amazing names come from the principles of Kwanzaa, too.

• Disney Baby has a long list of meaningful virtue names inspired by the season.

Winter Holiday Baby Names: Around the World

Of course, Christmas and Hanukkah are celebrated world-wide. I’ve barely scratched the surface of international winter holiday baby names.

• Australians celebrate Christmas in summer, and that makes their most seasonal baby names very different.
• British Baby Names starts with some great English options, then moves on to picks from Basque, Breton, Albanian, and more.
• Strictly speaking, this one is pure Americana: names inspired by Festivus! But Onomastica picks up on traditions from all over the world and history

Winter Holiday Baby Names: Inspired by Nature

Nature names are big, so why not names inspired by the natural world during the winter season?

• The winter solstice gives us names from myth and folklore, but also a long list of options from the natural world.
• More names inspired by seasonal traditions and celebrations, many from the natural world.
• Winter botanicals can be obvious – think Holly and Ivy – to the unexpected. I have a sweet spot for Evergreen.
• More winter names for girls, as well as boys. Love seeing rarities like Olwen and Aubin make the list.
• Here’s my list of winter girl names.
• Whoa! People really have been named Snowball. And other snow names!

Winter Holiday Baby Names: Some Favorites

I’ve written about countless baby names with a winter holiday tie-in over the past ten years. Here’s a sample:

• Saint Nicholas makes the name an impeccable choice for Christmas.
• The Wise Men are often named Melchior, Balthasar, and Casper. Or Jasper, another form of the name, and undeniably the most wearable of the moment.
• Beautiful Belle makes us think of the Disney princess, but it’s a very Christmas-appropriate pick, too.
• Natasha comes from the Latin Natalia – Christmas Day. Natalie is even more popular.
• Names that mean light seem right at this season. Lux might be one of the most obvious choices in this category.
• I love the idea of Drummer, as in the Little Drummer Boy.
• And then there’s Zuzu, from It’s a Wonderful Life.
• Tannen surprised me when it was first suggested, but I think it works.
• Holly was once a go-to choice for a December daughter.
• Nowadays, Ivy ranks as the most popular seasonal botanical choice for a daughter.
• I’m in love with Belen.
• Winter is the new Summer.
• Ren’s Namemas profiles even more great individual names for the season.
• Just for fun: Classic Firsts with Winter Middles. A mash-up of my favorite things!

Now it’s your turn: what are your favorite winter holiday baby names?