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Do you wish it was always Christmas? Do you think it truly is the most wonderful time of year? A huge fan of holiday food, gifts, music, and fun? What better way to immortalize your love for all things wintery than by naming your pooch something festive? A mutt moniker packed with seasonal inspiration is sure to brighten your spirit year-round, after all!
No matter the reason for your Christmas-themed name search, we’ve got you covered with this list of 250+ Christmas dog names below!
250+ Cute and Joyful Christmas Dog Names
Christmas dog names are perfect for any pup, whether your ruff’s a newly gifted addition to the family under the Christmas tree from Santa Paws or a pooch popping in far away from the holidays but just as joyful. Let’s meet some festive dog names together.
Winter Weather & Season-Related Christmas Dog Names
Are you looking for a Christmas dog name that’s indicative of the season? Check out these winter dog names matching the weather of Christmastime in much of the Northern Hemisphere.
- Avalanche
- Blizzard
- Blustery
- Boots
- Chill (Doubles as a good pick for a calm doggo!)
- Chilly
- December
- Flurry
- Freeze
- Frost
- Frosty
- Holiday
- Ice (An awesome husky name!)
- Iceberg
- Icicle
- Icy
- Jack Frost
- Mittens
- Nippy
- Nor’Easter
- Plow
- Polar
- Sleet
- Slush
- Slushy
- Snow
- Snowball
- Snowbelle
- Snowflake
- Snowy
- Whiteout (A great name for dogs adopted during a white Christmas!)
- Winter
- Yule
Christmas Dog Names From Shows and Movies
Can’t get enough Christmas movies and shows? Discover festive names for dogs from holiday films or television with us!
- Bernard (The Santa Clause)
- Buddy (Elf)
- Buzz (Home Alone)
- Cindy Lou Who (How the Grinch Stole Christmas)
- Clark (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation)
- Cratchit (A Christmas Carol)
- Ebenezer (A Christmas Carol)
- Fezziwig (A Christmas Carol)
- Finkelstein (The Nightmare Before Christmas)
- Flick (A Christmas Story)
- Grinch (How the Grinch Stole Christmas)
- Griswold (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation)
- Harry (Home Alone)
- Heat Miser (The Year Without a Santa Claus)
- Hermey (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)
- Ignatius (The Year Without a Santa Claus)
- Jack Skellington (The Nightmare Before Christmas)
- Jangle Bells (The Year Without a Santa Claus)
- Jingle Bells (The Year Without a Santa Claus)
- Jovie (Elf)
- Linnie (Home Alone)
- Lock (The Nightmare Before Christmas)
- Marley (A Christmas Carol)
- Marv (Home Alone)
- Max (How the Grinch Stole Christmas)
- Murchins (Home Alone)
- McCallister (Home Alone)
- McClane (Die Hard)
- Nestor (Nestor the Long-Eared Donkey)
- Odbody (It’s a Wonderful Life)
- Oogie Boogie (A Nightmare Before Christmas)
- Ralphie (A Christmas Story)
- Sally (The Nightmare Before Christmas)
- Scrooge (A Christmas Carol)
- Scut (A Christmas Story)
- Snow Miser (The Year Without a Santa Claus)
- Tiny Tim (A Christmas Carol)
- Yukon Cornelius (Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer)
Christmas Dog Names Inspired By Carols and Songs
Love a name with a little music behind it, or want to pay homage to your favorite Christmas song? Check out these festive names for dogs connected to carols, jingles, and more!
- Blue (“Blue Christmas”)
- Deck (“Deck the Halls”)
- Dominick (“Dominick the Donkey”)
- Drummer (“The Little Drummer Boy”
- Feliz (“Feliz Navidad”)
- Glittery (“Glittery”)
- Hark (“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”)
- Hippo (“I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas”)
- Jingle (“Jingle Bell Rock”)
- Jolly (“A Holly Jolly Christmas”)
- Mele (“Mele Kelikimaka”)
- Silver (“Silver Bells”)
- Suzy (“Suzy Snowflake”)
- Tannenbaum (“‘O Tannenbaum”)
Festive Names for Dogs Inspired By Christmas Figures From Around The Globe
From Santa Claus to Saint Nick and Nisse, there sure are lots of folklore heroes and figures associated with the holidays. Let’s meet some international sources of inspiration who make unique Christmas dog names!
- Baba: From Noel Baba, the Turkish equivalent of Santa Claus
- Belsnickel: A German folklore gift giver
- Claus: As in Santa Claus, the American interpretation of Christmas’s gift giver
- Grýla: An Icelandic folklore giantess depicted as begging for bad children to devour (Perfect for a huge dog breed!)
- Joulupukki: A Finnish Christmas figure whose name translates to “Christmas goat”
- Julemanden: A Danish character whose name means “The Yule Man”
- Kanakaloka: The Hawaiian name for Santa Claus
- Knecht: From Knecht Ruprecht, a companion to St. Nicholas in German folklore
- Krampus: A sinister figure of Alpine folklore said to punish badly behaved children for Saint Nicholas
- Kringle: From Kris Kringle, a name for Santa derived from the German Christkindl
- Lutzelfrau: A German folklore witch who gives gifts to children
- Mikulás: A Hungarian version of Saint Nicholas
- Morozko: A Slavik character whose name translates to “Old Man Frost”
- Nicholas: As in Saint Nicholas, the legendary figure who brings kiddos presents
- Nick: From Saint Nick, a less formal name for Saint Nicholas
- Nisse: A Nordic folklore creature similar to a gnome linked to Christmas
- Olentzero: Character in Basque Christmas tradition
- Papai: As in Papai Noel, a Brazilian variant of Santa
- Pelznikel: Another name for Belsnickel, a German Christmas figure
- Père: As in Père Noël, the French version of Father Christmas
- Sinterklass: The Dutch figure in which Santa Claus is derived from
- Tió: From Tió de Nadal, a Catalonian figure whose name means “Christmas log”
Santa’s Reindeer Christmas Dog Names
Why not stir up Christmas cheer year-round by picking the name of one of Santa Claus’s reindeer for your Rover? These mutt monikers sure do pack magic and might like Santa Claus himself.
- Blitzen: This reindeer’s name is derived from the Dutch word for lightning, making it a good selection for a speedy furry friend.
- Comet: A space dog name like this is a match made in mutt heaven for an out-of-this-world awesome doggo.
- Cupid: Linked to love, this moniker’s suited for an affectionate dog breed, like the Labrador.
- Dancer: Have a puppy with all the moves? This adorable name might be the one!
- Dasher: This fast pick is a great match for a future agility all-star or working dog breed.
- Donner: A variant of the Dutch word for “thunder,” this booming name’s perfect for a loud canine.
- Prancer: Perfect for a fancy-footed floof or a show dog, this moniker’s as graceful as can be.
- Rudolph: Everyone’s favorite red-nosed reindeer has a German name meaning “famous wolf,” which works well on a shepherd, husky, or malamute.
Christmas Nature Dog Names
Looking for a nature name for dogs with Christmas ties? Check out these amazing canine contenders.
- Amaryllis
- Berry
- Douglas
- Fir
- Frankincense
- Goose
- Holly
- Ivy
- Mistletoe
- Myrrh
- Pine
- Pinecone
- Poinsettia
- Spruce
- Wintergreen
Other Miscellaneous Christmas Dog Names
Looking for a simple way to sum up holiday tradition in a name? Check out these awesome word picks that make memorable Christmas dog names.
- Angel
- Bell
- Bough
- Bow
- Candy Cane
- Carol
- Chestnut
- Chimney
- Coal
- Cookie
- Eggnog
- Elf
- Eve
- Feast
- Festive
- Fruitcake
- Garland
- Gift
- Ginger
- Gingerbread
- Happy
- King
- Manger
- Merry
- Milk
- Mince
- Naughty
- Noel
- North (As in North Pole)
- Nutcracker
- Pie
- Plum
- Pudding
- Rejoice
- Ribbon
- Season
- Shepherd
- Sleigh
- Star
- Stocking
- Sugarplum
- Sweater
- Tinsel
- Toboggan
- Toy
Names With Christmas Meanings
Some names you may already know and love have Christmas-themed meanings. Check out these surprise Christmas dog names.
- Aatto: Finnish name meaning “eve”
- Anuli: An African name meaning “joy”
- Celyn: A Welsh name that means “holly”
- Chara: A Greek name meaning “happiness”
- Desta: An African name that means “joy”
- Eudora: A Greek name that means “good gift”
- Festus: An ancient Roman name meaning “festival” or “holiday”
- Hollis: An English surname meaning “holly trees”
- Kirabo: An East African name that means “gift”
- Lahja: A Finnish name that means “gift”
- Makana: A Hawaiian name meaning “gift”
- Malak: An Arabic name that means “angel”
- Nawal: An Arabic name meaning “gift”
- Natalie: A variant of Natalia, meaning “Christmas Day”
- Noelle: A French variant of Noel, a term for Christmas
- Nollaig: An Irish name and form of Noel meaning “Christmas”
- Shai: A Hebrew name meaning “gift”
- Sipho: An African name meaning “gift”
- Talvi: An Estonian name meaning “winter”
- Theodore: A Greek name meaning “gift of God”
- Velta: A Latvian moniker that means “gift”
- Xue: A Chinese name that means “snow”
- Yuki: A Japanese name meaning “happiness” or “snow”
- Zawadi: A Swahili name meaning “gift”
Food-Themed Names for Dogs With a Christmas Connection
Have a four-footer that’s obsessed with food? Honor this and your love of the holidays in these food-themed names for dogs from Christmas around the world!
- Bacalao: A salted cod dish that’s a Christmas staple
- Bibingka: A rice flour cake traditionally eaten after Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve in the Philippines
- Buche: Bûche de Noël is a French take on the traditional yule log dessert
- Clove: A spice common in Christmas cooking
- Coquito: A Puerto Rican form of eggnog featuring coconut
- Figgy: Figgy pudding is an English Christmas tradition
- Gingersnap: A firm Christmas cookie with a sharp ginger flavor
- Hallaca: A Venezuelan dish similar to tamales served around Christmas
- Ham: A Christmas meal classic in many American households
- Julesild: A pickled, spiced herring served around Christmas in Denmark
- Kolivo: A Bulgarian Christmas dish that’s similar to pudding
- Kutya: A Ukrainian grain dish popular during the Christmas season
- Lebkuchen: A soft German gingerbread cookie
- Malva: A South African pudding-sponge cake that’s a favorite around Christmas
- Panettone: An Italian sweet bread traditionally made around Christmas
- Pasteles: A Puerto Rican pork dish served around Christmas
- Peppermint: A holiday flavor often featured in candies, coffees, and cakes
- Pfeffernusse: A German spice cookie common around Christmas
- Pierogi: A beloved savory dumpling originating in Europe
- Pizzelle: An Italian cookie made with a special iron
- Rosolli: A beetroot salad popular in Finland during the holiday season
- Shortbread: A basic but tasty cookie common around the holidays
- Snickerdoodle: A cinnamon-sugar goodie popular in Christmas cookie collections
- Spritz: A Christmas cookie often dusted with colored sugar
- Stollen: A German fruitcake featuring dried fruit and marzipan
- Tamale: A Mexican food favorite especially loved around the holidays
- Turkey: A Christmas dinner star in many North American and European countries
- Varenyky: A Ukrainian cabbage and potato-stuffed dumpling
- Yiaprakia: A pork-filled cabbage roll common in Greek Christmas celebrations
Christmas Dog Names From Other Languages
Why not try on a Christmas-themed word from another language as a holiday name for your hound? Explore these unique Christmas dog names from other languages!
- Biscotto: Italian for “cookie”
- Cadeau: French for “gift”
- Cesmina: “Holly” in Czech
- Ciastko: Polish for “cookie”
- Dóro: “Gift” in Greek
- Duende: Spanish for “elf”
- Estrella: Spanish for “star”
- Fest: German for “feast”
- Festin: “Feast” in French
- Houx: French for “holly”
- Joulu: Finnish for “Christmas”
- Jul: “Christmas” in Swedish
- Kalikimaka: “Christmas” in Hawaiian
- Kerstmis: “Christmas” in Dutch
- Kex: “Cookie” in Icelandic
- Klock: Swedish for “bell”
- Lumi: “Snow” in Finnish
- Misteli: “Mistletoe” in Finnish
- Muérdago: Spanish for “mistletoe”
- Nastro: “Ribbon” in Italian
- Natal: Portuguese for “Christmas”
- Natale: Italian for “Christmas”
- Nauha: Finnish for “ribbon”
- Navidad: Spanish for “Christmas”
- Neve: Portuguese for “snow”
- Nieve: “Snow” in Spanish
- Ogni: “Lights” in Russian
- Regalo: “Gift” in Spanish
- Renna: “Reindeer” in Italian
- Sani: “Sleigh” in Russian
- Schlitten: “Sleigh” in German
- Schnee: German for “snow”
- Sino: Portuguese for “bell”
- Slitta: “Sleigh” in Italian
- Sneg: Russian for “snow”
- Snih: “Snow” in Ukrainian
- Sori: “Sleigh” in Japanese
- Strumpf: “Stocking” in German
- Tähti: “Star” in Finnish
- Tonakai: Japanese for “reindeer”
- Ünnep: Hungarian for “feast”
- Valot: “Lights” in Finnish
- Vohni: Ukrainian for “lights”
- Zirka: “Star” in Ukrainian
Hanukkah Names For Dogs
In search of a Hanukkah-themed name for your hound? Check out these cute and creative picks.
- Brisket: A popular cut of beef served at Hanukkah dinner
- Challah: A braided bread eaten during Jewish holidays
- Dreidel: A spinning top game
- Gelt: Foil-covered chocolate coins given to kiddos
- Gimmel: A Hebrew letter featured on a dreidel
- Judah: One of the Maccabees
- Kugel: A baked casserole featuring potatoes
- Latke: Fried potato pancakes served at celebrations
- Maccabee: Jewish rebel soldiers who restored the religion to Judea
- Mattathias: One of the Maccabees
- Matzah: Matzah ball soup is a popular Jewish dish served at gatherings
- Menorah: Candelabrum used to celebrate Hanukkah
- Miracle: Hanukkah is celebrated as a holiday of miracles
- Rugelach: A baked treat filled with fruits, chocolate, and nuts
- Tzimmes: A stew of vegetables and carrots often served at Rosh Hashanah and Hanukkah meals
More Winter Holiday Names for Dogs
Interested in a name that fits the spirit of another winter holiday? Browse these picks and see if you can find the right festive name for your dog.
- Bodhi: As in Bodhi Day, a Buddhist holiday celebrating Buddha’s enlightenment
- Dashiki: A traditional West African garment worn during Kwanzaa festivities
- Epiphany: A Christian feast day celebrated after Christmas
- Imani: The Kwanzaa day of faith (Great for a loyal doggo!)
- Karamu: A Feast of Faith enjoyed during Kwanzaa
- Karenga: As in the creator of Kwanzaa, Maulana Karenga
- Kinara: The candleholder used in Kwanzaa celebrations
- Lucia: As in St. Lucia’s Day, a celebration also known as Lussinatta
- Lucy: As in the Feast of Saint Lucy, celebrated mainly in Sweden, Finland, and Denmark
- Mahindi: Corn used in Kwanzaa celebrations
- Mazao: The crops of Kwanzaa
- Nia: The Kwanzaa day of purpose
- Posada: Related to Las Posadas or “The Inns,” a Mexican and Latin American holiday commemorating Joseph and Mary seeking refuge for Jesus’ birth
- Solstice: As in the Winter Solstice
- Toji: A traditional Japanese celebration of the Winter Solstice
- Ujima: Kwanzaa day of collective work and responsibility
- Umoja: The Kwanzaa day of unity
How to Pick Your Dog’s Name
Struggling to pick the right Christmas dog name? Can’t seem to find the right mutt moniker in general? Check out these tips to make the process easier.
- Pick something you like. Go with a name that you love. Your dog’s name is something you’ll say, call, and use for years to come, so it helps to absolutely adore your ultimate pick.
- Look at your interests for inspiration. If you can’t seem to find a name that speaks to your heart, dig into your everyday loves for namespiration. Passionate about golf? Try out Birdie or Putter. Adore art? How about Rembrandt or Picasso? Love to read? Investigate literary dog names, like Hemingway, Severus, and Hamlet.
- Remember your other household names. It’s important to consider other monikers in your family when browsing dog names to avoid confusion or tongue-tying when calling your pup over. Sure, Sammy is great for a dog, but if you have a daughter named Samantha, it’s not the best choice. Similarly, Millie is adorable, but it might be confusing if you already have a dog named Tilly.
- Being unique has its perks. Popular dog names like Max and Finn are great, but chances are, if you call those names at a local dog park, more than one canine will come running. Opting for something a little less common, like Rupert, Tycho, or Chimichanga, helps your hound stand out in doggy daycare (and won’t send a dozen doggos running your way when called!)
- Skip anything offensive. This is obvious, but it still needs to be said: If your dog’s name makes anyone feel uncomfortable, it’s inappropriate. Pick something positive, please. Your pup deserves the best!
- Try to avoid negative connotations. Names like Killer, Demon, or Lucifer are badass, but they may set your sniffer up for poor first impressions when making veterinary or grooming appointments. You don’t want others to think your pup’s a problem child, right? Opt for something that won’t make others give him a side eye.
- Take a name on a test run. Picking the right name may take time. Don’t be afraid to try out each contender, whether you practice calling your canine over or imagine making a grooming appointment with the name. Sometimes, you discover over a few hours that a name isn’t right, and that’s OK! Just try out a new name from your list.
Need more naming guidance? Check out our full article, How to Pick Your Dog’s Name.
Christmas Dog Names: FAQ
Have some questions left about Christmas dog names and other holiday-related hound topics? Check out these frequently asked questions and matching answers.
What should I name my Christmas dog?
Name your Christmas doggo a name you love, whether a moniker tied to the holiday or a random choice. You’ll use the name daily for years, so make sure you enjoy it! Some great Christmas-themed choices include Merry, Star, and Cookie, while excellent picks unrelated to the holiday, like Blossom, Bronco, and Rowdy, are just as cool! Follow your heart and pick something that matches your mutt!
What is Santa’s dog’s name?
The answer to this favorite holiday joke is Santa Paws, of course! Santa Paws also makes an adorably clever Christmas-themed dog name, if you ask us!
What are some winter dog names?
Winter dog names come in all forms. You can opt for weather-related finds, such as Icy, Frost, and Snowflake, or go in a food direction with Stew, Figgy Pudding, and Pot Roast. Love garment-type monikers? See Mittens, Boots, and Socks. After something sportier? Try out some skiing slang, like Gnar, Huck, and Liftie.
What dog name means snow?
“Snow” is the meaning behind many names, like Bora, Eirwen, Lumi, and Xue. You could also pick a snow-themed word name that’s more obvious, like Snowball, Snowbelle, Snowdrop, or Snowy or related Drift, Powder, and Slush.
What dog name means gift?
Several names translate to gift, including the Hebrew name Shai, the Arabic name Nawal, and the Finnish name Lahja. Close in meaning are the Greek names Eudora, meaning “good gift,” and Theodore, meaning “gift of God.”
Any great Christmas dog names we missed? Does your doggo already have a Christmas name? Share your ideas in the comments below!
