73 Holiday Baby Names for Christmas, Hanukkah, and More

A holiday can give a baby’s name a personal connection to family, faith, or cultural tradition. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, and Bodhi Day each offer names tied to their stories, symbols, languages, and seasonal customs.

The 73 choices below are organized by holiday, with separate girl and boy lists where appropriate. Some have meanings connected to light, joy, peace, or spiritual awakening, while others honor religious figures, winter plants, and familiar holiday traditions.

Christmas Baby Names

These Christmas baby names draw from the Nativity story, Christian virtues, saints, carols, and familiar winter figures.

13 Christmas Baby Names for Girls

Related: Fun Facts About December Babies

1. Angelica: A form of Angela, a name ultimately derived from the Greek word for “messenger” or “angel.”

2. Eve: A Hebrew name connected to “life,” with a direct holiday association through Christmas Eve.

3. Carol: An English word name associated with Christmas songs.

4. Faith: An English virtue name with a clear Christian association.

5. Gloria: A Latin name meaning “glory,” familiar from the Christmas hymn “Gloria in excelsis Deo.”

6. Grace: An English virtue name associated with divine grace.

7. Joy: An English word name reflecting the happiness of the season.

8. Mary: The mother of Jesus in the New Testament.

9. Natalie: A name derived from a Latin word meaning “birthday,” traditionally associated with the birth of Christ.

10. Natividad: The Spanish word for “Nativity.”

11. Noelle: The French feminine form of Noël, meaning “Christmas.”

12. Paloma: A Spanish name meaning “dove,” a Christian symbol of peace and the Holy Spirit.

13. Stella: A Latin name meaning “star,” recalling the Star of Bethlehem.

10 Christmas Baby Names for Boys

1. Casper: A traditional form of the name assigned to one of the Magi in later Christian tradition.

2. Christian: A name derived from Latin Christianus, meaning “a Christian.”

3. Christopher: A Greek-derived name meaning “bearing Christ.”

4. Gabriel: A Hebrew name meaning “God is my strong man”; Gabriel announces the birth of Jesus in the New Testament.

5. Jack: A medieval form of John, meaning “Yahweh is gracious,” with an additional winter connection through Jack Frost.

6. Joshua: A Hebrew name meaning “Yahweh is salvation.”

7. Joseph: The husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus in the New Testament.

8. Michael: A Hebrew name meaning “Who is like God?” Michael is also identified as an archangel.

9. Nicholas: A Greek name meaning “victory of the people,” associated with Saint Nicholas.

10. Noel: The French word and name for “Christmas.”

Winter Solstice and Yule Baby Names

These Winter Solstice and Yule names connect to evergreens, fire, stars, snow, and other images associated with the darkest point of the year and the return of longer days.

11 Winter Solstice Baby Names for Girls

1. Astra: A name from the Latin word for “stars.”

2. Aurora: A Latin name meaning “dawn”; the northern lights are also called the aurora borealis.

3. Celeste: A name derived from Latin caelestis, meaning “heavenly.”

4. Crystal: An English gemstone name that also recalls ice.

5. Holly: An English plant name associated with winter greenery.

6. Ivy: An evergreen vine traditionally used in winter decorations.

7. Laurel: An English nature name for the laurel tree.

8. Luna: A Latin name meaning “moon.”

9. Neve: An anglicized form of the Irish Niamh, meaning “bright”; the spelling also resembles the Italian word for “snow.”

10. Sage: An English word name for the herb.

11. Skye: A place name associated with Scotland’s Isle of Skye, with a spelling that also recalls the sky.

11 Winter Solstice Baby Names for Boys

1. Aiden: A modern variant of Aidan, from an Irish name meaning “little fire.”

2. Ash: An English tree name that also recalls the ashes of a Yule log.

3. Birch: An English tree name associated with pale winter bark.

4. Blaze: An English word name referring to a bright fire.

5. Forrest: An English surname-derived name connected to the forest.

6. Garnet: A deep-red gemstone name.

7. Hollis: An English surname associated with holly trees.

8. Orion: The name of a constellation prominent in the winter sky.

9. Robin: A diminutive of Robert, meaning “bright fame,” with an additional connection to the winter bird.

10. Whittaker: An English surname meaning “white field.”

11. Yule: An English word name for the midwinter festival.

Hanukkah Baby Names

Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple and the miracle of the oil. These names connect to light, miracles, gratitude, gifts, and gold.

5 Hanukkah Baby Names for Girls

Related: 17 Best Hanukkah Books for Children

1. Golda: A Yiddish name meaning “gold.”

2. Keren: A Hebrew name meaning “horn” or “ray of light.”

3. Leila: A name meaning “night” in Arabic, connecting it to evening menorah lighting.

4. Matana: A Hebrew name meaning “gift.”

5. Ziva: A Hebrew name associated with radiance or brilliance.

5 Hanukkah Baby Names for Boys

1. Judah: A Hebrew name meaning “praised”; Judah Maccabee is central to the Hanukkah story.

2. Neriah: A Hebrew biblical name meaning “lamp of Yahweh.”

3. Nissim: A Hebrew name meaning “miracles.”

4. Paz: A Hebrew name meaning “gold.”

5. Uri: A Hebrew name meaning “my light.”

Kwanzaa Baby Names

Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African cultural holiday centered on seven principles known as the Nguzo Saba. These names reflect ideas such as faith, purpose, hope, beauty, freedom, and strength.

6 Kwanzaa Baby Names for Girls

1. Asha: A Swahili name connected to “life.”

2. Imani: A Swahili name meaning “faith,” the seventh principle of Kwanzaa.

3. Nia: A Swahili name meaning “purpose,” the fifth principle of Kwanzaa.

4. Taraji: An African American name derived from a Swahili word meaning “to hope.”

5. Zawadi: A Swahili name meaning “gift.”

6. Zuri: A Swahili name meaning “beautiful.”

6 Kwanzaa Baby Names for Boys

1. Baraka: A Swahili name meaning “blessing.”

2. Jabari: A Swahili name meaning “almighty” or “powerful.”

3. Kwame: An Akan name traditionally given to a boy born on Saturday.

4. Mosi: A Swahili name meaning “first child.”

5. Uhuru: A Swahili name meaning “freedom.”

6. Zuberi: The Swahili form of Zubair, a name associated with strength.

Bodhi Day Baby Names

Bodhi Day commemorates the Buddha’s awakening. These six names and spiritual terms connect to Buddhist ideas such as compassion, meditation, happiness, and enlightenment.

1. Ananda: A Sanskrit name meaning “happiness” or “bliss.”

2. Ashoka: A Sanskrit name meaning “without sorrow.”

3. Bodhi: A Sanskrit and Pali term meaning “awakening.”

4. Daya: A Sanskrit word and name associated with compassion or mercy.

5. Karuna: A Sanskrit name meaning “compassion,” a central principle in Buddhism.

6. Zen: The Japanese name for Chan Buddhism, derived ultimately from a Sanskrit word meaning “meditation.”

A holiday-inspired name can connect a child with a family celebration, a spiritual tradition, or a season that already holds meaning for you. Once a few names stand out, say each one with the middle and last name and consider whether its meaning and cultural connection feel right for your family.

For more names connected to these traditions, see our biblical boy names, biblical girl names, Hebrew names, African names, and nature names. You can also browse the baby names hub.