December baby names are often equated with <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/412/Christmas-Baby-Names">Christmas names</a> or possibly names associated with Hanukkah or Kwanzaa. But there are names for December babies beyond holiday names. 

December baby names might be <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/89/Winter-Baby-Names">names relating to winter</a>, the season that begins on December 21. December 21 is also the date of the Winter Solstice, another source of December baby names, which may include <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/648/baby-names-that-mean-light">names that mean light</a>….or dark. 

And then there may be baby names related to snow, to the number 12, to the end of the year, to important namesakes connected to the month of December, or to the astrological signs Sagittarius or Capricorn. December baby names might also relate to December's birthstone, turquoise, or its flower, holly or narcissus. 

Scarlett, as in the color of Santa's hat, is the top girl name for December babies. Along with Scarlett, December girl names in the US Top 500 include Natalie, Olive, Stella, Christina, Eve, Faith, and the classic Mary.

The classic Joseph is still the top December name for boys. Along with Joseph, December boy names that rank in the US Top 500 include Gabriel, Angel, Christian, Nicholas, Jasper, and of course Jesus.

Unique December baby names on our recommended list include Dancer and Drummer, Abner and Leora, Holiday and December itself.

If you're expecting a December baby or perhaps naming a child conceived in December or one with another important December connection, consider these names for December babies.

December Baby Names

Lumi may be a rare <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">girls' name</a> in the USA and England, but it comes in the Top 50 in Finland, where it means snow. Given the popularity of Winter, Holly, Ivy and many other wintery-christmassy names, we think that short and spunky Lumi definitely has potential for greater usage outside its home country as one of the more unusual <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/412/christmas-baby-names">names for Christmas babies</a>. 
 
Lumi can also be considered an Albanian name, derived from the word lumë meaning "river" and inspired by the name of the northern Albanian Luma tribe. In this case, it would be considered a unisex choice and has been used evenly, though very rarely, between the sexes in Albania.
 
Another possibility is that it could come from the Filipino word lumay meaning "gentleness, moderation, manners", making it a sweet and friendly choice but with a grounded meaning. 
 
Given to nearly 90 babies in the US in 2024, use of the name had increased tenfold since 2014.

Lumi

This name of a character played by Kirsten Dunst in the movie Virgin Suicides, originally a novel by Jeffrey Eugenides, is gaining attention, also thanks to the heroine Lux, Lady of Luminosity in the League of Legends games. Luz is the Spanish version.
 
Influencer Brooklyn Larsen named her daughter Lux in 2026.

Magi, as in the Three Wise Men who visited the baby Jesus, is a new word name appropriate for Christmas babies. It might also be a way to spell Maggie, but you can see the problems that's going to cause.

Magi

Though it's close to the German and French form of Matthew, Mathis, this name of the great artist can work as well for girls.

Matisse

She'd better be. Merry is one of the classic <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/412/christmas-baby-names">names for Christmas babies</a>.

Merry

This Greek flower and mythological choice doesn't make it into the pantheon of possibilities because of its association with narcissism. But narcissa is December's flower of the month, so Narcissa and Daffodil theoretically make perfect <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/577/names-for-december-babies">names for December babies</a>.

Narcissa

December baby names

December baby names including meaning, popularity, and name themes of the month (Page 8)