Noelle
Yes, it’s a holiday movie starring Anna Kendrick, but it’s also a play on the French word for Christmas, Noel.
Carol
As in Christmas carols, of course!
Sugar
This ingredient is the star of the holidays, from cookies to gingerbread houses to peppermint bark.
Ginger
You can’t have a gingerbread house without this spice, which is why it makes a perfect Christmas girl dog or cat name, especially if your pet has red or orange fur.
Plum
A name to keep sugar plums dancing in your head all season long.
Canela
The Spanish word for cinnamon, another popular holiday spice.
Vixen
One of Santa’s reindeer (and, because its literal translation means “female fox,” it’s especially appropriate for dog breeds that resemble foxes).
Eve
This name can remind you of Christmas Eve, especially if that’s the day your new pet entered your life.
Paloma
Spanish for “dove,” a symbol of peace.
Holly
This popular holiday plant can be dangerous to pets, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use it as a cute Christmas name!
Ivy
Often paired with Holly, this plant is as good a name as it is a Christmas decoration.
Candy
Perfect for the new pet you found in your stocking!
Joy
Evoking festive happiness, this name celebrates all the joy your new pet brings to your world.
Gloria
This name will have you singing “Angels We Have Heard on High” all year long.
Cane
Like a candy cane, of course! You can also use the alternate spelling Kane.
Nick or Nicholas
Like the jolly fat guy himself, St. Nick.
Dickens
A reference to Charles Dickens, author of “A Christmas Carol.”
Kris
Kris Kringle is another name for Santa Claus.
Dasher
One of Santa’s reindeer. For a cute nickname, you can shorten it to Dash.
Rudolph
The red-nosed legend is one of Santa’s most famous reindeer, and his name comes with a cute nickname: Rudy.
Felix
This is the word for “happy” in Latin—and who isn’t happy around the holidays?
Jul
The word for Christmas in Swedish.
Yule
Another name for Christmas, as in, “yuletide greetings.”
Gabriel
The angel who told Mary she was pregnant with Jesus.
Crosby
Last name of famous crooner Bing Crosby, whose “White Christmas” and other songs after often heard during the holidays.
Claus
Santa’s surname is especially appropriate for cats who like to use their own “claus” on toy scratchers.
Nutmeg
A seasonal spice often used in holiday desserts.
Max
The antler-sporting dog in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
Snoopy
The famous dog in “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
Zeus
The canine star of “The Dog Who Saved Christmas.”
Shelby
The dog at the center of 2014’s “Shelby: The Dog Who Saved Christmas.”
Hope, Jingle, Charity and Noble
The four Christmas dog names in “Santa Paws 2.”
Scoot
The dog in “Scoot and Kassie’s Christmas Adventure.”
Bailey
The dog who stars in “Adventures of Bailey: Christmas Hero”—and also a reference to George Bailey, the main character in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Hercules
The dog in “Hercules Saves Christmas.”
Zero
Looking for a dog name from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” ? Well, you’ve found it!
Snot
Bring this name with you to your next holiday trivia night—it’s the dog’s name in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”!
Snowplow, Tank, Q.T., Frenchie, Chester, Fetch, Ceech, MacGregor and No-Name
These are the stray dogs recruited to pull Santa’s sleigh in 2004’s “Nine Dog Christmas.”
Puppy Paws, Budderball, Santa Paws, Mudbud, Buddha, B-Dawg and Eddy
These dogs starred in the Disney movie, “Santa Buddies.”
Jesse
The Jack Russell Terrier in 2016’s “A Doggone Christmas.”
Christmas
A little on the nose? Maybe—but when you name your pooch after the canine star of “A Dog Named Christmas,” you can just shorten it to Chris.
Tucker
The handsome pup in the get-out-your-tissues film, “Christmas With Tucker.”
Clementine
These little oranges are in peak season around the holidays.
Latke
These yummy potato pancakes are traditional Hanukkah fare.
Brisket
Another traditional Hanukkah dish.
Kugel
That’s the sweet pudding dish made at Hanukkah.
Chicory
Bitter greens that are in season in the winter.
Persimmon
A fruit that’s in season this time of year, sometimes used in Christmas pudding.
Quince
Another fruit that comes into its own in the late fall and early winter.
Cookie
What else would you leave Santa beside that glass of milk?
Pumpkin
Though the vegetable is more associated with Halloween, pumpkin pie is still a common holiday-time treat.
Cranberry
Because it’s not Christmas dinner without a side of cranberry sauce.
Cider
Perfect for snuggling in front of the fire with a steaming mug.
Dreidel
A top toy for Hanukkah
Dresden
It’s a city in Germany, but also the name of 3D ornaments made in Germany in the 19th century.
Belle
Here’s a Christmas girl dog name that will remind you of holiday bells.
Tinsel
This holiday décor can be dangerous if eaten by pets—so why not add a pet named Tinsel to your home instead?
Berry
From holly berries to cranberries, these juicy fruits are a sure signal of the season.
Angel
Maybe this name will inspire angelic behavior out of your new pet? Hey, it’s worth a try.
Garland
Reminiscent of the festive décor strung around many holiday homes at Christmastime.
Star (or Starr)
Named for the source of light that led the Wise Men and for the sparkly Christmas tree topper.
Shepherd (or Shep)
As important characters in the story of Christmas, shepherds can serve as name inspiration for all pets (not just, say, the German variety).
Caspar
One of three wise men (and no, not the ghost).
Dominick
The donkey in the early ‘60s Christmas song, “Dominick the Donkey.”
Frosty
The Snowman in the “Frosty the Snowman” song.
Olive
Star of “Olive, the Other Reindeer,” a TV special from 1999.
Wenceslaus
The good king in the Christmas song made famous by Bing Crosby.
Clara
A character in “The Nutcracker,” the ballet that’s performed every holiday season.
Pancho
The first name of the Tex-Mex Santa Claus (Pancho Claus).
Buddy
Will Ferrell’s character in the recent Christmas classic, “Elf.”
Emma
The character at the center of the “12 Dogs of Christmas.”
Clarence
The angel in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Emmanuel
From the Christmas carol, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” (You can always shorten it to Manny.)
Old Blue, Big Red and Luke
These are names of the Bumpus’ hounds in Jean Shepherd’s book “Wanda Hickey’s Night of Golden Memories and Other Disasters,” which was later made into the movie “A Christmas Story” in 1983 (and still shown today). Even though the Bumpus family had 785 dogs, the hillbilly family gave them the same three names!
Blanco/Blanca
The Spanish word for “white.”
Blanche
The French word for “white.”
Nieve
The Spanish word for “snow.”
Frio
The Spanish word for “cold.”
North
As in North Pole, where it’s always chilly. (Warning: Some people may assume you were inspired by Kanye.)
Oslo
The capital of Norway, and the site of the Winter Olympics in 1952.
Moritz
After St. Moritz, the city in Switzerland where the Winter Olympics were held (twice) before World War II.
Sapporo
The city in Japan where the Winter Olympics were held in 1972.
Luge
A winter sledding sport.
Zima
The word for “winter” in Czech.
Lumi
The word for “snow” in Finnish.
Bianco/Bianca
The word for “white” in Italian.
Alaska
The state that’s home to one of the most famous dog-sledding races, the Iditarod, a 938-mile trek from Anchorage to Nome that takes place every year.
Cocoa
Drinking hot cocoa may just be the greatest way to warm up on a cold day or night.
Jack Frost
Winter personified—just don’t let your new pet nip at your nose!
Snow
This name would fit perfectly with an all-white pet.
Blizzard
These winter storms may not be fun to sit through, but they do make for a cute and unique pet name!
Chilly
Perfect for a pup who enjoys wearing a Christmas sweater.
Glacier
This name inspired by the masses of ice near the north and south poles has an outdoorsy vibe.
Alpine
A name that can directly reference the Alps, a European mountain range, or just about any elevated mountain areas.
Aspen
The Colorado town famous for its ski slopes.
Snowflake
Each one is unique—just like your new pet.
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