Christmas and Winter Baby Names for Girls and Boys

A baby due in December or January arrives in the coziest season of the year. Twinkling lights and snowy mornings make winter a beautiful source of inspiration for a name. Some parents want an openly festive choice like Noelle or Nicholas. Others prefer a quieter nod to the season, such as Stella for the Christmas star or Eira, the Welsh word for snow.

Here you will find Christmas baby names and winter baby names for girls and boys, each with its meaning and its link to the season. We have also gathered names from holiday traditions around the world, plus a few tips to make sure a festive name still feels right in July.

Christmas baby names for girls
Christmas baby names for boys
Winter baby names for girls
Winter baby names for boys
Gender-neutral holiday names
Christmas names from around the world
How to choose a festive name that lasts
FAQ

Christmas Baby Names for Girls

These names are tied directly to Christmas through its story or its traditions.

Name	Meaning	Christmas connection
Noelle	Christmas, from French Noël	The French word for Christmas, from Latin natalis (birth)
Natalie	Born on Christmas Day	From Latin natale domini, the birthday of the Lord
Holly	The holly plant	Evergreen with red berries, a classic Christmas decoration
Ivy	The ivy plant	Paired with holly in the carol The Holly and the Ivy
Stella	Star	Evokes the Star of Bethlehem
Gloria	Glory	From the angels' hymn Gloria in excelsis Deo
Angela	Messenger	Angels announce the birth in the Nativity story
Mary	Origin debated, from Hebrew Miriam	Mother of Jesus at the heart of the Nativity
Carol	Feminine of Charles, free man	Shares its spelling with the Christmas carol
Joy	Joy, delight	Joy to the World is one of the best-loved carols
Merry	Cheerful, happy	Merry Christmas, of course
Eve	Life, from Hebrew Chava	Christmas Eve, the most magical night of the year
Belle	Beautiful	Sounds like the bells of Christmas
Celeste	Heavenly	Recalls the heavenly host of angels

Our top Christmas picks for girls

Noelle is festive but grown-up, and it pairs well with almost any surname. The spelling Noel also exists for girls.

Natalie is the most discreet Christmas name of all. Few people know that it originally referred to children born on Christmas Day, which makes it a lovely hidden meaning to share.

Stella is a star in every sense. It means "star" in Latin and has a warm vintage feel. Since it has no strong seasonal association, it ages beautifully.

Ivy has become one of the most popular nature names in English-speaking countries. A December baby gives it an extra layer of meaning.

Christmas Baby Names for Boys

Name	Meaning	Christmas connection
Nicholas	Victory of the people	Saint Nicholas, the origin of Santa Claus
Klaus	Short form of Nikolaus	Echoes Santa Claus
Noel	Christmas	The French word for Christmas, a long-standing boys' name in English
Gabriel	God is my strength	The angel who announces the birth of Jesus
Emmanuel	God with us	A name of Jesus in the carol O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Joseph	He will add	Husband of Mary in the Nativity
Jasper	Treasurer, likely of Persian origin	Traditional name of one of the Three Kings (Caspar)
Caspar	Treasurer, likely of Persian origin	German and Dutch form of Jasper, one of the Magi
Balthazar	Traditionally linked to Babylonian Belshazzar, protect the king	Another of the Three Kings
Stephen	Crown, garland	Saint Stephen's Day falls on December 26
Christopher	Christ-bearer	Contains the word Christ
Christian	Follower of Christ	A name that celebrates the faith behind the holiday
Rudolph	Famous wolf	The red-nosed reindeer of song and story

Our top Christmas picks for boys

Nicholas is the most timeless choice. Saint Nicholas of Myra was known for secret gift-giving, and his legend grew into Santa Claus. Nick and Nico are friendly nicknames.

Jasper is the cool, modern way to honor the Three Kings. It also happens to be the name of a gemstone, which gives it a second layer of meaning.

Gabriel is a gentle classic. As the angel of the Annunciation, he is part of the Christmas story, but the name works perfectly in every season.

Noel is short and cheerful. It sounds right at home next to classics like Leo or Theo.

If you love names with a spiritual dimension, our article on biblical baby names goes further, with meanings and origins for over fifty names.

Winter Baby Names for Girls

Not everyone wants a Christmas name. These choices evoke snow and winter light without pointing to a specific holiday.

Name	Origin	Meaning
Eira	Welsh	Snow
Eirwen	Welsh	Snow white
Nieves	Spanish	Snows, from Our Lady of the Snows
Blanche	French	White
Bianca	Italian	White
Yuki	Japanese	Snow or happiness, depending on the characters used
Aurora	Latin	Dawn, and the northern lights (aurora borealis)
Lucia	Latin	Light
Winter	English	The season itself
Crystal	Greek	Ice, crystal
Juniper	Latin	The evergreen juniper shrub
Gerda	Old Norse	Enclosure, protection. The heroine of The Snow Queen

Eira is our favorite winter name for a girl. It is short, easy to say (EYE-ruh) and its meaning is pure poetry.

Lucia is perfect for a December baby. Saint Lucy's Day on December 13 is celebrated in Sweden with candlelight processions that brighten the darkest time of the year.

Aurora captures the magic of the northern lights, which are most visible during the long winter nights.

Winter Baby Names for Boys

Name	Origin	Meaning or winter link
Kai	Several origins	The boy rescued by Gerda in The Snow Queen
Frost	English	Frost
Jack	English	A playful nod to Jack Frost
North	English	The north, cold and starry
Orion	Greek	A hunter whose constellation shines all winter
Boreas	Greek	God of the north wind
Hollis	English	Near the holly trees
Wenceslas	Czech (Václav)	More glory. The good king of the carol
Rowan	Irish and Scottish	A tree with red winter berries
Lucian	Latin	Light

Kai is short and international. In translations of Hans Christian Andersen's tale it belongs to the boy (Kay in the original Danish) whose heart is frozen by a splinter of the Snow Queen's mirror, so it carries a quiet winter story.

Orion suits a December or January baby especially well, since the hunter constellation rises high in the evening sky throughout the winter months in the northern hemisphere.

Hollis is a clever choice for parents who love Holly but want a name for a boy. It comes from an English surname meaning someone who lived near holly trees.

For more names that draw on trees and seasons, see our guide to nature-inspired baby names.

Gender-Neutral Holiday Names

Some festive names work just as well for a girl or a boy:

Noel: Christmas in French, used for both
Winter: the season, simple and modern
Robin: the red-breasted bird of Christmas cards, from Robert (bright fame)
Ember: the glowing heart of a winter fire
Wren: in Ireland, the Wren Boys tradition takes place on Saint Stephen's Day, December 26
Sky: crisp winter skies and starry nights
Rowan: a tree that keeps its red berries into winter

Christmas Names From Around the World

Every culture celebrates the season in its own way, and many traditions have inspired first names.

Name	Country	Tradition
Lucia	Sweden and Italy	Saint Lucy's Day, December 13, a festival of light
Noël and Noëlle	France	The French word for Christmas
Natalia	Spain, Italy and Eastern Europe	From natale, Christmas
Natividad	Spain and Latin America	Nativity
Nikolaus and Klaus	Germany and Austria	Saint Nicholas brings gifts on December 6
Wenceslas (Václav)	Czech Republic	The good king of the English carol

A quick warning about Pascal and its Italian cousin Pasquale: they come from Pascha, meaning Easter. They are lovely names, but not Christmas names.

How to Choose a Festive Name That Lasts

Think about the birthday. A child born on December 24 called Noelle or Eve will always have a very festive birthday. Some families love that. Others prefer a more subtle name so their child does not feel the holidays swallow their special day.

Go subtle with the meaning. Natalie or Lucian both have a hidden link to Christmas or winter light. You know the story, but the name stands on its own all year.

Use the middle name. A festive middle name like Holly or Noel is a sweet way to mark the season while keeping a more classic first name.

Say it in July. Imagine calling the name across a beach in the middle of summer. If it still sounds natural, it will age well. Our guide to baby names for December babies also suggests names inspired by Sagittarius and Capricorn if you want another angle. Babies due in the new year can also look at our selection of January baby names.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular Christmas name for a girl?

Ivy and Stella are among the most widely used names with a Christmas connection, and both rank high in the US today. Noelle, Holly, Natalie and Gloria are more openly festive choices that remain well known without being overused.

What is a good Christmas name for a boy?

Nicholas is the classic choice, linked to Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus. Jasper and Caspar honor the Three Kings. Noel is another favorite, since it simply means Christmas.

What name means snow?

Eira means snow in Welsh and Nieves means snows in Spanish. In Japanese, Yuki can mean snow depending on the characters used. Eirwen, another Welsh name, means snow white.

Which name means born on Christmas Day?

Natalie and its forms Natalia and Nathalie come from the Latin natale domini, meaning the birthday of the Lord. They were traditionally given to children born on or around Christmas Day.

Is it a good idea to give a Christmas name to a baby born in December?

It can be lovely, especially with a subtle name like Stella or Natalie. If the birthday falls very close to Christmas, some parents prefer to use the festive name as a middle name so their child's birthday keeps its own identity.

Share Your Festive Shortlist

Can't decide between Noelle and Stella, or Nicholas and Jasper? Ask your family to vote with our free baby name vote poll and make it part of your holiday fun.

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