Other Names for Santa: 54 Santa Claus Names Around the World
There are lots of other names for Santa. In English he's also Saint Nicholas, St. Nick, Kris Kringle and Father Christmas. Around the world he's Père Noël in France, Babbo Natale in Italy, Papá Noel in Spain and Latin America, Sinterklaas in the Netherlands and Ded Moroz, or Grandfather Frost, in Russia.
Here are 54 names for Santa and other Christmas gift-bringers, with the country each one comes from and the story behind it. Tap through them in the picker below, save your favorites, and copy the list for a class project or a holiday card.
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Why does Santa have so many names?
Almost every name goes back to one real person: Saint Nicholas, a bishop who lived in the 300s in Myra, a town in what's now Turkey. He was famous for giving gifts in secret, and over the centuries, different countries told his story in their own way. In the Netherlands he became Sinterklaas. Dutch settlers brought Sinterklaas to New York, and in English the name turned into Santa Claus.
Other countries kept older winter figures, like Father Christmas in England or Grandfather Frost in Russia, and those blended with Saint Nicholas over time. That's why some names mean "Saint Nicholas," some mean "Father Christmas," and a few, like Finland's Joulupukki (Yule goat), have their own story entirely.
English names for Santa
The names you'll hear in the US, the UK and Ireland. Most of them trace back to Saint Nicholas.
| Name | Where | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Claus | United States | from the Dutch Sinterklaas, brought to New York by Dutch settlers |
| Saint Nicholas | Worldwide | the real 4th-century bishop of Myra, in what's now Turkey, known for secret gifts |
| St. Nick | United States | a friendly short form of Saint Nicholas |
| Kris Kringle | United States | from the German Christkindl, the Christ Child, who brings gifts in parts of Germany |
| Father Christmas | England | an old English figure of holiday cheer who later blended with Santa |
| Santy | Ireland | the cozy Irish nickname for Santa |
| Old Saint Nick | United States | a warm, old-fashioned way to say St. Nick, as in the 1823 poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas |
| Jolly Old Elf | United States | the poem's own description of Santa |
| Papa Noel | Louisiana | the Cajun Santa, who's said to ride a pirogue (a little boat) pulled by alligators |
Names for Santa in Europe
Europe has the most names for Santa, because many countries kept their own gift-bringers.
| Name | Where | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Père Noël | France | means Father Christmas |
| Papá Noel | Spain and Latin America | means Father Christmas |
| Pai Natal | Portugal | means Father Christmas |
| Babbo Natale | Italy | means Daddy Christmas |
| Weihnachtsmann | Germany | means the Christmas man |
| Sankt Nikolaus | Germany | Saint Nicholas, who fills kids' shoes with treats on the night of December 5 |
| Christkind | Germany and Austria | the Christ Child, a gentle, angel-like gift-bringer |
| Sinterklaas | Netherlands and Belgium | arrives by steamboat in November and brings gifts on December 5 |
| Kerstman | Netherlands | the Christmas man, who comes on December 25 |
| Julemanden | Denmark | means the Christmas man |
| Julenissen | Norway | a gift-bringing Christmas gnome |
| Jultomten | Sweden | the Christmas tomte, a gnome who looks after the house |
| Joulupukki | Finland | means Yule goat; he's said to live in Lapland |
| Mikulás | Hungary | brings small treats on St. Nicholas Day, December 6 |
| Święty Mikołaj | Poland | Saint Nicholas, who brings gifts in December |
| Svatý Mikuláš | Czech Republic | Saint Nicholas, who visits on the eve of December 6 |
| Moș Crăciun | Romania | means Old Man Christmas |
| Jõuluvana | Estonia | means the Christmas old man |
| Ziemassvētku vecītis | Latvia | means the little Christmas old man |
| Kalėdų Senelis | Lithuania | means Christmas Grandfather |
| Dedek Mraz | Slovenia | means Grandfather Frost |
| Daidí na Nollag | Ireland | Irish for Father Christmas |
| Siôn Corn | Wales | the Welsh name for Father Christmas |
| Bodach na Nollaig | Scotland | Scottish Gaelic for the Christmas old man |
| Agios Vasilis | Greece | Saint Basil, who brings gifts on New Year's Day, his feast day |
| Olentzero | Basque Country (Spain) | a kindly charcoal maker who comes down from the mountains on Christmas Eve |
| Belsnickel | Germany and Pennsylvania Dutch country | a fur-wearing gift-bringer who checks if kids have been good |
Names for Santa in Eastern Europe and the Middle East
In Russia and several nearby countries, the big gift night is New Year's, not Christmas.
| Name | Where | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Ded Moroz | Russia | means Grandfather Frost; he comes at New Year's with his granddaughter, Snegurochka the Snow Maiden |
| Djed Mraz | Croatia, Bosnia and nearby countries | means Grandfather Frost |
| Svyatyi Mykolai | Ukraine | Saint Nicholas, who leaves gifts under the pillow on St. Nicholas Day |
| Noel Baba | Turkey | means Father Christmas; fitting, since Saint Nicholas lived in what's now Turkey |
| Baba Noel | Egypt, Lebanon and Iran | means Father Christmas in Arabic and Persian |
Names for Santa in Asia and the Americas
Santa travels far. Here's what kids call him in other parts of the world.
| Name | Where | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Santa-san | Japan | Mr. Santa; Santa Kurōsu is the full name |
| Shengdan Laoren | China | means Old Man Christmas |
| Santa Haraboji | South Korea | means Grandfather Santa |
| Ông già Noel | Vietnam | means the old man of Christmas |
| Kanakaloka | Hawaii | the Hawaiian name for Santa Claus |
| Viejito Pascuero | Chile | means Little Old Man of Christmas |
| Papai Noel | Brazil | means Daddy Christmas |
| Niño Dios | Colombia | the Christ Child, who brings gifts in many Colombian homes |
| Santa Clos | Mexico | Santa's name in Mexico, where many kids also get gifts on Three Kings Day |
| Father Christmas | South Africa | the name most families use |
Other Christmas gift-bringers
Not every country waits for Santa. These gift-bringers come on other nights.
| Name | Where | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Los Reyes Magos | Spain and Latin America | the Three Kings, who bring gifts on January 6 |
| La Befana | Italy | a kind old woman on a broom who brings treats on the night of January 5 |
| Yule Lads | Iceland | 13 playful brothers who visit one by one on the 13 nights before Christmas |
| Mrs. Claus | North Pole | Santa's partner, called Jessica in the 1970 TV special Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town |
Santa's names by meaning
A quick way to see the pattern. Most of Santa's names fall into one of four groups:
| Meaning | Names |
|---|---|
| Saint Nicholas | Santa Claus, St. Nick, Sinterklaas, Sankt Nikolaus, Mikulás, Święty Mikołaj, Svatý Mikuláš, Svyatyi Mykolai |
| Father Christmas | Père Noël, Papá Noel, Pai Natal, Papai Noel, Babbo Natale, Noel Baba, Baba Noel, Daidí na Nollag |
| The Christmas man | Weihnachtsmann, Kerstman, Julemanden, Shengdan Laoren |
| Grandfather or old man | Ded Moroz, Djed Mraz, Dedek Mraz, Moș Crăciun, Jõuluvana, Kalėdų Senelis, Ông già Noel, Santa Haraboji, Viejito Pascuero |
Fun ways to use Santa's other names
- Sign the gift tags in another language. "From Père Noël" on a few tags is a fun surprise, especially if your family has roots in that country.
- Christmas around the world in class. Give each kid a name from the list, then have them find the country on a map and share one fact.
- A world map advent. Each day in December, learn one new name for Santa and the country it comes from.
- Answer the big question. When kids ask how Santa gets everywhere, it's fun to explain that he has helpers and nicknames all over the world.
What do you call Santa at home?
Lots of families have their own pet name for Santa: the Big Guy, Big Red, the Jolly Fellow, Mr. Claus, or just "Him" with a wink. If your family has a holiday nickname tradition, our pet names from around the world and terms of endearment pages are full of fun, sweet names in other languages. You'll also like French pet names and Italian pet names if Père Noël or Babbo Natale is your favorite.
Want a holiday nickname for someone special? Save your favorites above, then try the free nickname generator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are other names for Santa?
In English, Santa is also called Saint Nicholas, St. Nick, Kris Kringle and Father Christmas. Around the world he's Père Noël, Papá Noel, Babbo Natale, Sinterklaas, Ded Moroz and many more.
Where does the name Santa Claus come from?
Santa Claus comes from Sinterklaas, the Dutch name for Saint Nicholas. Dutch settlers brought the tradition to New York, and the name shifted to Santa Claus in English.
What is Santa called in Spanish?
In Spain and much of Latin America he's Papá Noel. In Mexico he's often called Santa Clós, and in Chile he's Viejito Pascuero. Many Spanish-speaking families also celebrate the Three Kings on January 6.
What does Kris Kringle mean?
Kris Kringle comes from Christkindl, a German word for the Christ Child, who brings gifts in parts of Germany and Austria. In America the name became another name for Santa.
Who is Ded Moroz?
Ded Moroz, or Grandfather Frost, is Russia's gift-bringer. He comes at New Year's with his granddaughter Snegurochka, the Snow Maiden.
Is Saint Nicholas the same as Santa Claus?
Santa Claus is based on Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop known for secret gift-giving. Many countries still celebrate St. Nicholas Day on December 6.
