December marks the darkest time of the year (in the Northern hemisphere at least), but it’s also a time of celebration and light for many cultures. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Pancha Ganapati, this is a time to embrace family and renewal.
If you’re expecting a baby this December, here are 40 baby names inspired by the start of winter and the bright joy of the Yuletide season. Because what’s more joyful than the birth of a new baby?
December Baby Names for Girls
Alba means white (Latin).
Amaryllis means sparkle, a unique choice for your baby born around the holidays (Greek).
Arina means peace (Russian).
Carol means to celebrate in song (English).
Clara means bright and clear (Latin), and is also the name of the little girl in the classic Christmas ballet, The Nutcracker.
Eira means snow (Welsh).
Farah means joy (Arabic).
Holly is one of December’s birth flowers and a traditional Christmas plant with its green leaves and red berries.
Ivy is another traditional winter and Christmas plant, as evidenced by the carol, “The Holly and the Ivy.”
Joy is a very appropriate name for this time of year.
Kalea means joy (Hawaiian).
Leora means light (Greek).
Lucy means light (Latin).
Merry beautiful name for the holidays.
Natalie means birthday of the lord, a name traditionally given to babies born on Christmas Day.
Neve is the English version of the Irish Gaelic name Niamh meaning “bright” (Gaelic).
Nia means brilliance (Swahili) and is also the fifth day of Kwanzaa.
Nishita means light (Hindi).
Noelle means Christmas (French).
Tesha is a more modern-sounding version of Letitia meaning joy (Latin).
Tindra is a new name meaning glitter or sparkle (Swedish).
Winter is an appropriate name for your new winter baby.
December Baby Names for Boys
Altair means star (Greek), reminiscent of the star that led the Wise Men to Bethlehem.
Axel means man of peace (Scandinavian).
Bodhi means awakened (Sanskrit), and refers to the Buddhist concept of spiritual awakening. Bodhi Day is celebrated on December 8th.
Dorian means gift (Greek).
Douglas means dark water (Scottish), but we’re including it here for its association with the Douglas fir tree, commonly used as a Christmas tree.
Harshad means giver of joy (Hindi).
Hemant means early winter or gold, an appropriate name for the transition of seasons (Hindi).
Jasper means bringer of treasure (Persian).
Jesse means gift (Hebrew).
Nevada means snowy (Spanish).
Nicholas means people of victory (Greek) and has clear ties to the Christmas season through the story of St. Nicholas.
Noel means Christmas (French).
Paxton means peace town (Latin).
Robin means bright and famous (German) and also refers to the small, red-breasted robin bird that often remains in northern climes throughout the winter.
Rudolph is often associated with Christmas as we sing about that famous reindeer every year, but it actually means famous wolf (German).
Shishir means winter season (Hindi).
Solomon is derived from the Hebrew word shalom, meaning peace (Hebrew).
Yuki means snow (Japanese).
Yule also means Christmas (English).
I’m a December baby like most other Holly’s! Some of these I’ve never thought to associate with Christmas though
It’s so cute to link a baby’s name with the season. There are many names on your list that I didn’t know the meaning of and how Christmas-sy they really are.
I had no idea that there was monthly names but my favorite on this list is Ivy
I chose the name Nicholas because I have always loved it! My son is a winter baby! I love the original meaning. I am Incredibly Proud of him! 🙂
Wow!, Am a june celebrant (born in june) and love the name diana