Reindeer Names
Reindeer are the only deer that have been truly domesticated, and they’ve pulled sleds across the Arctic for centuries — so it’s no surprise they ended up pulling Santa’s sleigh. Here you’ll find all nine of Santa’s reindeer with what their names mean, plus more than 90 other reindeer names for Elf on the Shelf sidekicks, plush toys, school projects, holiday pets and real reindeer on Christmas farms.
Most Americans learned the reindeer from the 1823 poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (“’Twas the Night Before Christmas”), which introduced the first eight; Rudolph joined in 1939 through a Montgomery Ward booklet. Real reindeer come from the Arctic, so our Norwegian names and Finnish names are full of ideas, and snowy themes overlap with our names that mean snow and white cat names.
Santa’s reindeer names and what they mean
The original eight come from the 1823 poem; Rudolph was added in 1939. In the first printing, the last two were called “Dunder and Blixem” — Dutch for thunder and lightning.
| Reindeer | Meaning of the name | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Dasher | One who moves fast | Leading the team at speed |
| Dancer | Graceful mover | Light on its hooves |
| Prancer | One who springs and struts | Lively, showy steps |
| Vixen | A female fox; a spirited woman | Cleverness and spunk |
| Comet | A blazing object in the sky | Streaking across the night |
| Cupid | The Roman god of love | Spreading love |
| Donner | German for “thunder” (originally Dunder) | Power and noise |
| Blitzen | German for “lightning” (originally Blixem) | Flashing speed |
| Rudolph | Germanic, “famous wolf” | His glowing red nose |
Famous reindeer from movies and TV
Beyond Santa’s team, reindeer have starred in plenty of holiday classics, from stop-motion specials to Disney blockbusters.
| Name | Where it comes from | Personality |
|---|---|---|
| Sven | Kristoff’s reindeer in Disney’s <em>Frozen</em> (2013) | Loyal, carrot-loving |
| Clarice | Rudolph’s sweetheart in the 1964 TV special | Kind and encouraging |
| Fireball | Rudolph’s friend at the reindeer games (1964) | Sporty and loud |
| Robbie | <em>Robbie the Reindeer</em>, the BBC animated specials | Rudolph’s son, a sporty hero |
| Olive | <em>Olive, the Other Reindeer</em> — a dog who joins Santa’s team | Determined underdog |
| Zoey | Rudolph’s love in <em>Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie</em> (1998) | Brave and warm |
| Arrow | Rudolph’s rival cousin in the 1998 movie | Competitive and fast |
| Chet | The teenage reindeer in <em>The Santa Clause 2</em> | Clumsy, eager to fly |
Nordic and Sámi-inspired reindeer names
Reindeer have been herded for centuries by the Sámi people of northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. These Scandinavian names give a reindeer an authentic Arctic feel.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Bjørn | Bear | Norwegian |
| Sigrid | Beautiful victory | Old Norse |
| Leif | Heir, descendant | Old Norse |
| Astrid | Divinely beautiful | Old Norse |
| Nisse | Christmas elf of Nordic folklore | Scandinavian |
| Tomte | Swedish Christmas gnome | Swedish |
| Ingrid | Beautiful goddess (Ing) | Old Norse |
| Nils | Scandinavian form of Nicholas, “victory of the people” | Scandinavian |
| Freya | Lady; goddess of love | Old Norse |
| Aurora | Latin “dawn”; the northern lights | Latin |
| Lumi | Snow | Finnish |
| Tuuli | Wind | Finnish |
| Revontuli | Northern lights (literally “fox fires”) | Finnish |
| Tove | From Tófa, a short form of names honoring Thor | Old Norse |
| Kari | Pure; form of Katherine | Norwegian |
| Rune | Secret lore | Norwegian |
| Vidar | Warrior of the forest | Old Norse |
| Saga | Story, tale | Swedish |
Wintry reindeer names
Snow, ice and starlight suit animals who live where winter lasts half the year. Our names that mean snow have many more.
| Name | Inspiration | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Frost | Morning ice crystals | Cool and calm |
| Blizzard | A snowstorm | Wild and fast |
| Flurry | Light snowfall | Gentle and playful |
| Icicle | Dripping ice | Pale and sparkly |
| Glacier | A slow river of ice | Big and steady |
| Tundra | The treeless Arctic plain | Rugged |
| Polar | The North and South Poles | Tough |
| Nordic | From northern Europe | Classic |
| Crystal | Ice crystals | Sparkling |
| Sleet | Icy rain | Speedy |
| Avalanche | Tumbling snow | Unstoppable |
| Borealis | The northern lights | Magical |
| Winter | The season itself | Timeless |
| Snowdrop | A white winter flower | Delicate |
| Starlight | Light of the night sky | Dreamy |
| Snowflake | A single flake of snow | Unique and delicate |
| Midnight | The night Santa flies | Dark-coated reindeer |
| North | The North Pole | A born leader |
| Comet Tail | The glowing trail of a comet | A speedy follower |
| Juniper | A hardy evergreen | Earthy |
Festive Christmas reindeer names
Holiday words make perfect names for an Elf on the Shelf reindeer, a plush toy or a holiday puppy.
| Name | Holiday inspiration | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Jingle | Jingle bells | A noisy reindeer |
| Tinsel | Shiny tree decoration | A sparkly girl |
| Holly | The Christmas plant | Classic and sweet |
| Noel | French, “Christmas” | Any reindeer |
| Ivy | Evergreen vine | Gentle girls |
| Gingerbread | Holiday cookie | Brown reindeer |
| Candy Cane | Striped peppermint treat | Sweet and silly |
| Cocoa | Hot chocolate | Cozy reindeer |
| Sparkle | Holiday lights | A shiny personality |
| Mistletoe | Kissing plant | A romantic reindeer |
| Nutmeg | Holiday spice | Warm and brown |
| Sugarplum | From “The Nutcracker” | A dreamer |
| Garland | Tree decoration | A long-legged reindeer |
| Chestnut | Roasting on an open fire | Brown and warm |
| Jolly | Merry and bright | A happy reindeer |
| Eggnog | Holiday drink | A creamy-colored reindeer |
| Buddy | <em>Elf</em> (2003) | An enthusiastic reindeer |
| Evergreen | Christmas tree | Steady and strong |
Cute reindeer names for plush toys and Elf on the Shelf
Short, sweet names for stuffed reindeer, holiday pets and the reindeer sidekick in your Elf on the Shelf setup. Our cute pet names have plenty more.
| Name | Why it’s cute | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Button | Round button nose | Small plush reindeer |
| Pipsqueak | The littlest reindeer | Tiny toys |
| Twinkle | Twinkling lights | Glittery girls |
| Snuggles | Made for hugging | Plush reindeer |
| Peppermint | Candy-cane stripes | Red-and-white toys |
| Marshmallow | Floats in hot cocoa | Cream-colored plush |
| Bramble | A thorny winter bush | Scruffy reindeer |
| Pudding | Christmas pudding | Round, chubby toys |
| Jingles | Bells on the harness | Noisy toddlers’ toys |
| Mittens | Warm winter mittens | White-footed reindeer |
| Snickerdoodle | Holiday cookie | Tan reindeer |
| Poppy | Red winter berries | Red-nosed girls |
Funny reindeer names
Silly, punny names for holiday cards, ugly-sweater parties and Elf on the Shelf antics.
| Name | The joke | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Rudy Tootie | Rudolph goes rootin’-tootin’ | A goofy reindeer |
| Vixen Mix | Party-mix pun | A snack-loving reindeer |
| Sleigh Ride | The famous song | A speedy reindeer |
| Snow Joke | “No joke” | A serious-looking reindeer |
| Antler Banderas | Antonio Banderas | A handsome buck |
| Hoof Hearted | Say it out loud | Silly adults |
| Deer Abby | The advice column | A wise listener |
| Doe-Nut | Donut + doe | A round female |
| Rein Man | <em>Rain Man</em> | A clever reindeer |
| Mooseltoe | Moose + mistletoe | A big-nosed reindeer |
| Clausette | Santa’s sidekick | A bossy girl |
| Prancelot | Prancer + Lancelot | A noble knight-deer |
| Sir Hoofs-a-Lot | A knighted stomper | A clumsy reindeer |
| Deer John | The “Dear John” letter | A heartbreaker |
| Moose-ter Chef | Moose + MasterChef | A reindeer who loves cookies |
| Raindrop | Reindeer? Rain-deer! | A reindeer who hates bad weather |
Tips for naming a reindeer
- Start with the classics. A name from Santa’s team (Dasher, Comet, Cupid) is instantly recognizable for kids.
- Pick something kids can say. For an Elf on the Shelf reindeer, two syllables and a festive word — Jingle, Tinsel, Cocoa — work best.
- Go Nordic for real reindeer. Christmas farms and petting zoos often choose Scandinavian names to honor the animal’s Arctic roots. See our Swedish names and Viking names.
- Match the antlers. Both male and female reindeer grow antlers — the only deer species where that’s true — so a grand name suits either.
- Borrow from other deer. Our pony names and goat names also include lots of names that fit hoofed animals.
Frequently asked questions
What are the names of Santa’s 9 reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph.
Where did Santa’s reindeer names come from?
The first eight come from the 1823 poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” usually credited to Clement Clarke Moore. Rudolph was created by Robert L. May for a 1939 Montgomery Ward booklet.
Is it Donner or Dunder?
The original 1823 poem used “Dunder” and “Blixem” (Dutch for thunder and lightning). Later versions changed them to the German-sounding Donner and Blitzen, which stuck.
What is the reindeer’s name in Frozen?
Kristoff’s loyal reindeer in Disney’s Frozen (2013) is Sven.
Do female reindeer have antlers?
Yes. Reindeer (called caribou in North America) are the only deer species in which both males and females regularly grow antlers.