Santa's reindeer names and fun facts for kids
The short answer
Santa has nine reindeer. In order, they are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph. The first eight come from the 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas". Rudolph joined in 1939 and leads the sleigh on foggy nights.
The nine reindeer
| Name | Fun fact |
|---|---|
| Dasher | The fastest. First in the poem's list. |
| Dancer | Light on its feet. |
| Prancer | Proud and lively. |
| Vixen | Clever. A vixen is also a female fox. |
| Comet | Named after the bright objects that fly across the sky. |
| Cupid | Kind and friendly. |
| Donner | Means "thunder" in German and Dutch. The poem first wrote it "Dunder", later "Donder". |
| Blitzen | Means "lightning". The poem first wrote it "Blixem". |
| Rudolph | The red-nosed reindeer. Leads the team in fog. |
Where the names came from
The first eight names come from the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas", also called "'Twas the Night Before Christmas". It was first printed in New York in 1823. Rudolph was created in 1939 by Robert L. May for a department store booklet. The song came in 1949 and made him famous.
Real reindeer facts
- Reindeer are real. They live in the far north of Europe, Asia and North America, where they are called caribou.
- Both males and females grow antlers. Males drop theirs in early winter. Females keep theirs until spring. So the reindeer with antlers on Christmas Eve are probably girls.
- Their noses warm the air before it goes into the lungs.
- Their hooves change. Soft pads in summer, hard edges in winter to grip the ice.
- They eat lichen, a plant-like food they dig up from under the snow.
Games with the reindeer names
- Name the reindeer. Say the names in order before bed on Christmas Eve.
- One carrot each. Count out nine carrots. See what to leave out for Santa.
- Reindeer name tags. Kids draw each reindeer and write its name.
Questions
How many reindeer does Santa have?
Nine, counting Rudolph. The original eight come from the 1823 poem, and Rudolph joined in 1939.
What are the names of Santa's reindeer in order?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph.
Which reindeer leads Santa's sleigh?
Rudolph leads on foggy nights with his red nose. In the poem, the eight are named in pairs, starting with Dasher and Dancer.
