Santa's Reindeer Names: Meet All Nine of Santa's Reindeer
Santa's reindeer names are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph. I know those names by heart, though I still like to call them out as I make my morning rounds. Come through the stable door with me, Elf Carey, and meet the team before their next practice flight.
The lanterns are still glowing this morning, and there are fresh hoofprints by the gate. Dasher has already reached the paddock. Cupid is waiting for a friend, while Rudolph lifts his nose to greet us. We have time for a quiet visit before Santa comes to check the sleigh.
What are all nine reindeer names in order?
Santa's nine reindeer names, in the usual order, are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph. The first eight follow the naming order in A Visit from St. Nicholas, with Rudolph added at the end.
That order helps you learn the names. It is not a map of where each reindeer stands in the harness. Rudolph may be last on your list, but he goes out front when Santa needs that glowing red nose to light the way.
Try learning the first eight in pairs: Dasher and Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. Then add Rudolph for nine. Say the pairs slowly while you count on your fingers. I sometimes tap each name on the gate with my mitten to keep my place.
| Reindeer | A quick introduction |
|---|---|
| Dasher | Eager to get moving |
| Dancer | A cheerful, light step |
| Prancer | Ready for the big night |
| Vixen | Curious and playful |
| Comet | A calm, patient friend |
| Cupid | Kind to every teammate |
| Donner | Steady and careful |
| Blitzen | Full of bright energy |
| Rudolph | A glowing guide |
What is each of Santa's reindeer like?
Santa's reindeer each have their own habits: Dasher races toward fresh snow, Dancer taps along with the bells, and Prancer nudges us for another brushing. Spend a morning with the nine of them and you will soon know who is who.
Dasher
Dasher likes to leave the first hoofprints in fresh snow. As soon as the gate opens, he trots to the far fence, then looks back to see who is coming. By the time I have pulled my mittens on, there is already a little trail behind him. He waits at the gate for Santa's signal before flight practice, though his ears keep tipping toward the open field.
Dancer
Dancer taps one front hoof when the sleigh bells jingle. I can be carrying a harness past the door and hear a soft tap, tap from the other side. If I stop, Dancer lifts an ear and waits for the next note. The elves sometimes hum while they work, and Dancer steps along beside them until Santa calls everyone into place for the morning flight.
Prancer
Prancer knows exactly where we keep the brushes. After a run through the snow, a soft nose nudges my sleeve, then points toward the shelf. One more brush along the neck, please. Prancer stands very still for that last bit, with eyes half closed. The moment I put the brush away, though, those hooves are off toward the door, ready to show Santa a freshly tidied coat.
Vixen
Vixen must inspect anything new in the yard. Move an empty bucket to the other side of the door, and Vixen will find it before you have finished your rounds. First comes a careful sniff, then a nose right over the rim. I have learned to leave room for this little inspection. Once everything has been checked, Vixen trots off to see what the other reindeer are doing.
Comet
Comet has a favorite resting spot beside the window, where the morning light falls across the straw. Sometimes I hear a soft snore before I even reach the door. A jingling harness gets one ear to turn, but Comet takes a good stretch before getting up. There is usually a bit of straw caught in that thick coat, which I brush away before we head outside.
Cupid
Cupid always leaves room beside the feeding trough. When another reindeer comes over, Cupid shuffles sideways until two noses can fit. I often find Cupid and Comet eating shoulder to shoulder, with their ears turning toward the same sounds. If Comet wanders away, Cupid looks up with a mouthful and waits a moment before taking another bite. You can usually find one by looking for the other.
Donner
Donner greets us with a deep, soft huff that I can hear from the next stall. It sounds a little like someone blowing across the top of an empty bottle. When Santa brings the sleigh around, Donner turns slowly and leaves plenty of room for it to pass. Then comes another huff, a small cloud of breath in the cold air, and a patient wait beside the harness.
Blitzen
Blitzen loves a loose drift of powdery snow. A quick hop through it sends white dust over those dark hooves, and sometimes right up onto that curious nose. The sneeze that follows always makes me laugh. Blitzen gives a shake, scattering the last few flakes over my boots, then heads back to the team. On snowy mornings I stand a little farther away.
Rudolph
Rudolph likes to lean over the lower door when I come by. In the early morning, that red nose leaves a warm little glow on the wood. It makes the brass latch shine before I have even lifted the lantern. Once we are outside, Rudolph turns toward Santa and waits with the others. When fog settles over the practice route, that familiar glow is the first thing I look for.
Who leads Santa's sleigh?
Rudolph leads the way when Santa needs help seeing through fog or a dark winter night. His shining red nose is the team's special guiding light.
Families first read Rudolph's story in 1939, when Robert L. May shared it in a booklet published by Montgomery Ward. In the story, Santa asks Rudolph to guide the sleigh through thick fog with that bright red nose.
Santa holds the reins, with eight more reindeer behind Rudolph helping to pull the sleigh. During practice, I like to listen as the bells grow faint above the trees. A few minutes later, I can hear them coming back before I spot the sleigh over the roof.
Where did the reindeer names come from?
The first eight of Santa's reindeer names became known to readers through A Visit from St. Nicholas, published in 1823. The poem is also called The Night Before Christmas.
Some spellings changed as the poem appeared in new editions. Early readers saw Dunder and Blixem; you may also find Donder and Blitzen. Today, Donner and Blitzen are the familiar spellings on many reindeer lists. Donder and Donner refer to the same member of Santa's team, so there is no extra reindeer to count.
Rudolph's story came later, which explains why older copies of the poem name eight reindeer. If you hear a slightly different name during a bedtime reading, you have found a little piece of the poem's long history.
What do reindeer eat?
Reindeer eat plants, including grasses, leaves and lichen. Lichen is an important winter food, and reindeer can scrape away snow with their hooves to reach it.
Breakfast comes before flight practice here at the North Pole. While the team eats, we check the water and put fresh straw in the resting spots. There is plenty to do before anyone touches a sleigh bell.
If your family likes leaving a little treat on Christmas Eve, visit our Magic Reindeer Food recipe together. Ask a grown-up to help, and follow the recipe's wildlife-friendly guidance. Your Christmas Eve sprinkle is a holiday tradition, rather than a full meal for a reindeer.
Are Santa's reindeer boys or girls?
Both boy and girl reindeer can grow antlers, so antlers do not tell us whether Santa's reindeer are boys or girls. Santa knows each one, but their names do not give us a sure answer.
In the natural world, adult males usually shed their antlers in late fall. Females often keep theirs through winter and into spring. Timing can vary, so that seasonal pattern is a fun fact rather than a rule for naming Santa's team.
If you are drawing the team, you can give your reindeer antlers without needing to settle that question. I would start with the ears and nose, then leave plenty of room at the top of the page for those branching shapes.
Can you print a simple list of the nine names?
You can print the nine names of Santa's reindeer below, or copy them onto paper. The list uses the familiar naming order, from Dasher through Rudolph.
Santa's nine reindeer
- Dasher
- Dancer
- Prancer
- Vixen
- Comet
- Cupid
- Donner
- Blitzen
- Rudolph
Draw a tiny hoofprint beside each name as you learn it. You could give Rudolph a red dot, then add a small picture that helps you remember each friend. There is no need to hurry through all nine in one sitting.
Where can you spend more time with Santa's reindeer?
With a grown-up, you can peek in on the reindeer at Santa's North Pole Cams. The Reindeer Cam opens November 7.
For more North Pole exploring, take a look at Where Does Santa Live? When you are ready for a game, try Santa's Rooftop Rush at our North Pole Games hub. I had better put my mittens back on, because Dasher is waiting by the gate again.
What else do families ask about Santa's reindeer?
Families often ask how many reindeer Santa has, who leads the sleigh, how to spell Donner and whether female reindeer have antlers.
How many reindeer does Santa have?
Santa's familiar sleigh team has nine reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph. The first eight appear in the 1823 poem, while Rudolph's story was first shared in 1939.
What are the nine reindeer names in order?
The usual naming order is Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph. This is an order for remembering their names, rather than a fixed guide to their places in the harness.
Which reindeer leads the sleigh?
Rudolph leads when Santa needs his glowing red nose to help light the way. Santa guides the sleigh, and all nine reindeer work together on the Christmas Eve journey.
Is it Donner or Donder?
Both spellings refer to the same reindeer. Donder appears in versions of the old poem, while Donner is the familiar spelling used on many lists today. They are not two separate members of the team.
Do female reindeer have antlers?
Yes. Both male and female reindeer can grow antlers. Adult males usually shed theirs in late fall, while females often keep theirs through winter. Antlers alone are not a reliable way to tell a boy reindeer from a girl.
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About the author
Co-Founder, Package From Santa®
Carey is a co-founder of Package From Santa® and a parent who has spent 20 years helping families create personalized Christmas magic. Known around the North Pole as Elf Carey.
Related reading: Magic reindeer food recipe, Where does Santa live?, 15 Christmas Eve box ideas and Letters from Santa: the complete guide for parents on the Package From Santa® blog.
