Baby Names
They’ll bring tidings of comfort and joy.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year — to have a baby. That’s right, if you’re expecting in December, then you obviously have the most exciting present (i.e. your baby) being delivered (ha). But what will you name this most perfect, gorgeous little gift? Well, if you want to be inspired by the season, you can always opt for some Christmas baby names that will leave you feeling smitten.
Rich with symbolism and characters, the holiday season provides a wealth of material to inspire names that range from beautiful and powerful to jolly and sweet, and any one of them would be perfect for your Christmas Day arrival. Whether you’re looking for Christmas names for girls or Christmas boy names, one thing is (almost) for certain: it’s pretty unlikely that your baby will be born on December 25. Why? It comes partly down to science… and scheduling. Since doctors don’t typically schedule C-sections or inductions on holidays (because, natch, they want to be home with their own families), fewer babies get to claim Christmas Day as their birthday, per Live Science.
So if your baby is about to make their grand debut in the month of December, you should still have some Christmas baby names that will be at the top of your nice list.
1Noelle
Sure, you want to pay homage to your baby’s birth date, but you might not want to call your kiddo Christmas. Well, you won’t be able to say no to Noelle. It’s a girl’s name of French origin and it means, literally, “Christmas.” Like the name Noelle but you’re having a boy? No, prob, because you can just get rid of a couple of letters and call your baby boy Noel.
2Natalie
If your baby is born on December 25, they’re obviously sharing their birth date with Jesus Christ. And that’s what makes Natalie a fitting Christmas name for girls. It means “birthday of the Lord,” and, like Noelle, is of French origin. It derives from the Latin phrase “natale domini,” which means, you guessed it, “birthday of the Lord.”
3Joseph
A Hebrew name, Joseph means “God will increase” and originates from the verb yasaf, which also means “to increase.” Of course, Joseph is one of the major Biblical characters, since he was the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthside father of Jesus. Joseph also has a bunch of cute nicknames, like Joe and Joey.
4Stella
Of Latin origin, Stella is a baby girl’s name. It means “star,” and could be considered a Christmas baby name for girls because it was the star that led the Three Wise men to the manger where Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were.
5Beth
Location names are kind of cool, but Bethlehem might be a mouthful for a small baby. That said, you can always shorten the name to just Beth, which means “pledged to God.” Beth is often thought to be a nickname for Elizabeth, but it can stand on its own as a beautiful Christmas-centric name for your sweetie.
6Lucy
No, we’re not talking about Lucy from A Charlie Brown Christmas. As a Christmas baby name, Lucy is quite lovely. It means “light” in Latin, and when you think about how dark the winter days are in December, a little extra light (in the form of your little one) can shine some happiness in an otherwise weary world.
7Belen
You love the idea of the name Bethlehem. You really do, but, welp, it’s kind of long. Well, here comes Belen, a beautiful Christmas name for boys. It’s of Spanish origin and means “Bethlehem.” It’s pronounced “Beh-len,” with the stress on the second syllable.
8Balthazar
The Three Wise Men are important players in the story surrounding the birth of Jesus. That’s why you should consider naming your baby boy Balthazar. It is of Greek origin and means, “Baal protects the King.” Balthazar can also be spelled Balthasar, too, and has cool nicknames, like Balto, Balty, Baz, and even Zar.
9Caspar
Another one of The Three Wise Men, Caspar is a quintessential Christmas boy’s name. It means “keeper of the treasure,” and is of Persian origin. A cute nickname for Caspar can be Cas or Cassy.
10Blanche
If Blanche gives you Golden Girls vibes, you’re not alone. But it’s also a sweet name for your Christmas baby. Of French origin, Blanche means “white,” which just might make you think about gently falling snow — and eating cheesecake on your lanai.
11Celeste
Celeste is not a name you hear too often, which is what makes it special… just like Christmas. As a name, Celeste is of Latin origin and means, “heavenly.” It’s not too hard to see why this could be a fab fit for your holiday baby. Oh, and when it comes to nicknames for Celeste, you can opt for Cece, Elle, Ellie, Lettie, or even Celly.
12Jesse
A gender-neutral name, Jesse is of Hebrew origin. It means “God’s gift,” so it ties in easily to your Christmas baby theme. Biblically speaking, Jesse was the grandson of Ruth and Boaz, so he technically wasn’t present when Jesus was born, but since the name means “gift,” it’s a good name for a Christmas baby.
13Christian
Looking for a Christmas baby name that celebrates Christianity? Why not choose Christian, then? The name means “Follower of Christ” and is of English origin. The name, once for boys, has now become gender-neutral.
14Israel
You can score some inspo from the land where Jesus and his disciples come from by calling your child Israel. The name means, “He who struggles with God,” which might seem like a contradiction in terms but is actually an ode to the story of Christmas itself.
15Emmanuel
Emmanuel is a baby boy’s name of both Hebrew and Scandinavian origin. It means, “God is with us” and comes from the Old Testament. The most common choice for a nickname is Manny, but you could call your baby Manuel, too. And if you like Emmanuel but are having a girl, you could always make it feminine by writing it as Emmanuelle.
16Holly
Too tired (and preggo) to be decking the halls? We hear you. But that shouldn’t put a halt on calling your baby Holly. Holly is of Old English origin and means “the holly tree.” The deep green leaves and red berries that are so synonymous with the holidays.
17Ivy
Ivy was a sacred plan to the Celts, said Travel France Online, and was incorporated into Christmas celebrations with holly to symbolize resurrection and eternity. And it sounds really pretty, too.
18Carol
Carol is a quaint Christmas name for your baby girl. It can be spelled with or without an “e” at the end, and is of English origin. It means “free person or song,” which is perfect when you consider how many Christmas carols you’ll be singing throughout the month of December.
19Jeannette
A nickname of sorts for Jeanne, Jeanette is a girl’s name. It means “God is gracious,” and is of Hebrew origin. Jeanette has a slew of spellings, such as Jeannette or even Janette and Janet.
20Isabella
Many countries lay claim to the name Isabella, including Spain, Italy, and Israel. It means “pledged to God” and is the Latin form of Isabel, and the English version of Elizabeth. Isabella is currently a very common name, and holds the number seven spot for most popular baby names, according to the Social Security Administration.
21Mary
The name Mary is of Hebrew origin and means “drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved.” It also happens to be the birth mother of Jesus, which makes it as Christmas-esque as you can get. Mary isn’t as popular nowadays as it used to be, but with cute nicknames like Mare, Mae, Mamie, or Mitzi, it might see a resurgence.
22December
When thinking about popular Christmas baby names, let’s not forget the month in which the holiday happens. Month birthdays are pretty cool, and December is certainly no exception. No one will ever wonder the month in which your baby was born.
23Rudolph
Rudolph is one of those no-brainer baby names if you want something that sings Christmas. Of course, your kiddo might get some teasing in the days and weeks leading up to their birthday, but if you switch the spelling to something less obvs, (like Rudolf, or Rudy), your child just might become a born leader — or at least the line leader in their kindergarten class.
24Ivy
Another foliage-sounding name, Ivy is an ideal choice for your Christmas babe. It’s of English and Latin origin and it means, “vine.” How does this relate to December 25? Well, just as holly is used to deck the halls, so is ivy, which was once thought to ward off bad spirits.
25Snow
Nature-inspired names are very popular, and Snow is at the top of that list. Naturally, the name Snow means just what it is (i.e. frozen rain), but it can also signify someone who is light-haired, too. Snow can be a gender-neutral name, and is a cute name to give to your wintry baby.
26Eve
Christmas Eve is when things start getting really exciting, as kiddos count down to Christmas. That’s what makes Eve so elegant and ideal for your Christmas baby. It means “life,” which is what Christmas is all about. The name is also Biblical, since Eve was the name of the first woman.
27Star
A girl’s name, Star is a not-so-obvious Christmas baby name. The Christmas Star was what inspired The Three Wise Men to travel to Jerusalem, and eventually meet baby Jesus. To be fancy, you can add an extra “r” to the name, but really, when you tell people why you named your Christmas baby Star, they’ll totally get it.
28George
If you want a sweet Christmas-themed name, choose George. Sure, it means “farmer,” but this name also has a festive connection to George Bailey, James Stewart’s character in It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s classic, boyish, and just lovely.
A baby born during the month of December deserves a name that is full of joy and happiness. And these Christmas baby names for girls and boys will definitely make a fa-la-la-la-lasting impression.
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