When you first welcome your Elf on the Shelf into your home, your family will be tasked with naming your Elf. While you can name your Elf anything your family likes, since this is an annual holiday tradition you are starting you probably want to come up with a name that you will all be happy with year after year. (That means leaving the naming completely up to your toddler might not be the best course of action.) To get those creative juices flowing, and give you some ideas you can suggest for your toddler to choose from, here are 50 Christmas-inspired Elf on the Shelf name ideas.
New for 2020, don’t miss 25 days of Elf on the Shelf printable masks! (They also look great taped to family photos!!!)
Looking for more Elf on the Shelf ideas, check out this list of 50 Elf on the Shelf Games, Decorations, Accessories & More.
- Kringle (this is our Elf’s name)
- Tinsel
- Ralphie (A Christmas Story)
- Kris
Wayne (Prep and Landing)- Snow
- Merry
- Figgy (as in pudding)
- Flake
- Elfie
- Ginger (as in Gingerbread man)
- Dash (as in Dasher)
- Jingle
- Pep (as in peppermint)
- Virginia (Miracle on 34th Street)
- Bell
- Hermey (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)
- Clarice (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)
- Twinkle
- Tiny (as in Tiny Tim)
- Noel
- Max (the Grinch‘s dog)
- Sugarplum
- Nuts (as in nutcracker)
- Holly
- Buddy (Elf)
- Frost
- Griswold (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation)
- Clark (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation)
- Elfkins
- Mistletoe
- Frank (as in frankincense)
- Ice
- Candy (as in cane)
- Carol (as in caroling)
- Angel
- Eggnog
- Blitz (as in Blitzen)
- Topper (as in tree topper)
- Garland
- Bling
- Snowball
- Clara (from the Nutcracker)
- Rudy (as in Rudolf)
- Star
- Nick (as in St Nick)
- Claus (as in the big guy)
- Plum (as in pudding)
- Jolly
- Bob (as in Cratchit – Christmas Carol)
Once you settle on the all-important name for your Elf. Be sure to check out my post about throwing a welcome breakfast for your family’s new friend. And check back soon for more Elf on the Shelf ideas.
Get the most of your Elf on the Shelf with the kits below. We just bought the Letters to Santa kit this year, and can’t wait for Kringle to bring it to our kids to use this week. And the DVD is a MUST watch for all new Elf on the Shelf owners – an annual tradition in our house.
Elf on the Shelf – Elves At Play Paper Crafts
Scout Elf Express Delivers: Letters To SantaElf on the Shelf Scout Elves At Play KitAn Elf’s Story DVD
For even more ideas, scroll through the comments below.
What is your Elf on the Shelf named?
Don’t miss our 2014 Elf on the Shelf Breakfast.
Hanan says
I was so tempted to get one this year, but we didn’t =( Next year for sure!
Abigail Margach says
Haha say that to yourself next year
Rhea says
These are good names! We went completely nontraditional and named our elf “Jack Andrew Smitty” I really have no idea how the kids came up with that. lol
Tayden says
Mine already had a name it is Boots
Lolo says
We do not have one yet, but I would love one for next year when my little guy will appreciate it more!
cori says
Love Elf on the Shelf! I’m fond of Kringle myself!!!
Courtney says
100 ideas for your Elf on the Shelf!!!
http://mycrazysavings.com/2011/12/100-ideas-for-your-elf-on-the-shelf/
Eric says
We named ours Noel.
Stacy says
We named ours Snowflake. She’s a girl, we bought the little white skirt for her to wear. 🙂
jen says
So cute! If we knew about the skirts when Kringle first came to live with us, he would have been a girl too!
Pam says
We named ours peppermint 🙂
jen says
Cute!
trish says
we just got our elf on the shelf!!! thanks for some ideas… still contemplating tho.
Nolie says
I need to get me an elf on the shelf.
Alicia says
I asked for it as a Christmas gift….even though all my kids are grown, the grandkids will enjoy it!
Abigail Margach says
Mmmm hope they like it
Pandamanes says
I named my elf Noel 😀 this morning we found him hanging out in a stocking in a diving position.
Jeannie says
I am picking up my Elf today.:)
jen says
Oh boy! Your kids will love it. Be sure to check out some of my Elf ideas here – https://www.thesuburbanmom.com/2011/12/12/elf-on-the-shelf-ideas/
Pam says
My Mom has one at her house and his name is Louie. My 3 year old nephew named him. You never know where Louie will be sitting and watching. Too cute!!!
Cyndi Lacefield says
So cute! When I was doing gift wrapping for a program I volunteer with at Barnes and Noble yesterday,this totally adorable little girl came to get her friend’s elf wrapped. She chatted merrily and told me ALL about her Elf while I wrapped it, and I was just tickled pink! That little girl was the BEST PR they could have ever had. When my wrapping shift was over, I went straight for them! I took it to my grandchildren today. Now that I have seen the skirt, I may have to hurry and get one, as the oldest is a girl! next year,when she is 3 1/2 she will know the story better and their Elf will be there on time : D
Tammie says
My grandparents had one of these years ago. When I saw this in the store it brought back so many memories. I bought one and will start the tradition even tho my children are grown.
tahj says
ME TOO!
tahj says
Sorry I am getting mine tommrow
tahj says
but they are as cute as the devil
Kelly says
I just learned about this, and remember those little elves from when I was a kid. If we get one, and I think we will for next year, I think we’ll name him Clarence, after Jimmy Stewart’s guardian angel from “It’s A Wonderful Life.”
Serenity says
We got one a couple years ago. We named him Buddy!
chippy says
love it
whab says
We just received ours in the mail a few days ago… after long consideration and plenty of silly names from the kids we all agreed on Winston McElfie!
Natalie says
Thanks for all the great ideas! I bought one last year on an after Christmas sale. I just opened it and my husband and I were trying to figure out what in the world to name it – as soon as we read out “Clark” (Griswold), we knew that was perfect, since Christmas Vacation is our traditional holiday movie! Thank you!
Haley's Mom says
We have decided on Holly Jingle Snowflake. Seems fitting! Merry Christmas all!!
Anna says
We named ours Clyde Hermey!
Jayme says
We have an Ellie & Elvis McElf 🙂 An elf for each kid, that way I can pick it up for them when they each have their own kids 🙂
Victoria says
We’re just starting this year and have decided on Elfis (Elvis) for ours 🙂
Sandra Benge says
The web site at http://www.elfontheshelf.com is not working.. any suggestions?
jen says
Just tried it myself and it seems to be working now.
Cierah says
jinglebella is a good elf on the shelf name
Cierah says
good idea
Kate says
We have 2, Jingels and Baljeet (Baljeet looks Indian)
Tristan says
Ours is named Candy Cane!
jamie says
I got an elf for my 3 kids and they named it chippy so i was just like ok
Kyler says
I am 11 and me and my sister each have our own elf. We got them in 2009. My elf’s name is Joy. I think some other good names are Deccy (as in December), Marco and Tina.
Thanks for reading!!! 🙂
Abby says
I named my elf happy
Kim says
I just received my girl elf & skirt in mail for my 18 month old daughter and she calls her coco , haha
allison says
my elf on the shelfs name is tinsel cute
Kimmy's Mom says
We purchased our girl elf Saturday at Books A Million and we got her skirt for $2 (running an after Thanksgiving special). We are trying to convince our daughter to name her Sparkle” She is liking “Snowflake” though…still deciding lol. Can’t wait to start our Elf on the Shelf tradition December 1st!
Tiffany says
We named ours “Tootsie”
maria says
This is awesome! Our elf comes for the first time on saturday so this is totally helpful!
Liz says
Each of my kids has his/her own. We use the annalee dolls bc we started this about six years ago before elf on the shelf really took off. My sons is named ‘Beaker’ and my older daughter’s is ‘Jolly,’ but I’m still wracking my brain for a name for my 4-month old girl’s elf. I have this thing where, just like in real life, I need the names to sound good together! Struggling…maybe Jingle?
Tonya says
Pepper!
Erin says
This was so helpful! We decided on Clark! Now that I know about the skirt we may be getting a second one for my baby girl.
Shannon says
Our two oldest boys had a knock down drag out fight about our elf’s name….one of them wanted popcorn and the other wanted eggnog…I said ” if you can’t agree then you have to find a new one that you both like….we’re not picking one that one of you is unhappy with” so they fought for a bit until I said ” what about Popnog? ” they thought it was hilarious and they both okayed it on the spot!
Sandy says
I just got my little one (girl) yesterday and I”m having a difficult time coming up with a cute name.
none says
I really want one!
Christie Armstrong says
I bought one for my new grandson who is 7 months old. Even though I know it will be a few years before he can appreciate it, I wanted him to have one for his first Christmas. The elf is yet to be named.
Quincy Barnesky says
We just got a girl and the kids named her Candy Cane!
Amber says
My daughter (5) named hers (a girl) Pixie Tinsel, I thought it was cute and very fitting!!
Catizhere says
Biddle.
janice says
What IF you can’t remember your elf on the shelf’s name?
Michele says
We named ours “Snitch”. We thought that was silly since his job is to go report to Santa on a daily basis! 🙂
Christina says
Our elfs name is Walter… I’m not sure where that came from. My friends elf is named Pedro! lol!
Bryanna says
We named ours elf Peppermint and my best friends elf is named Sherman! She has a brother that gets in trouble a lot and all it takes is for her to say “SHERMAN!” and he will straighten right up and he will say “Please don’t tell Santa, Sherman, PLEASE” and I thought that was so cute!!
Buddy says
I love elf on the shelf thay are awesome
christina bronchveller says
great comment about elf on the shelf elf on the self is great
Sarah says
Nemo because you have to go find him 🙂
Kaylee says
Elfred instead of Alfred.
Allie says
Chip! Like chocolate chip cookies that Santa eats!!!! 😉
terry smith says
i started the Elf with my granddaughter and she loves it.
terry smith says
I started the Elf on the Shelf with My granddaughter and she loves it. I am so glad to be able to share this with Her.
Meredith says
Dot and Dash are working miracles with everything from potty training to put toys back at the store! Now only wish there were all year long lol
Trina says
I know Elf on the Shelf freaks out a lot of people, but I’ve been enjoying seeing my friends’ creative pictures on facebook this year. What a fun tradition for families and kids!
jane says
my grandson named his elf Raider.
kaelyn says
hey
Pam says
Thanks for help in finding a name for him, I chose jingles
hannah says
i named my elf on the shelf winter and she was so funny because she made a snow angel out of sugar with her friends sparkles and sparkles but the most fumiest thing was she was dating a elf named hotdog and there was this elf named Annie so hotdog started cheating on winter with Annie i was so mad at hotdog a and Annie so there was allot of things going on buy
Mary says
Love the name Winter & the story behind it!
Ashley says
My elf on the shelf his name is candy cane his middle name is fleak bell whit
Julie S says
You should check out The Pajama Elves by Hayden Edwards. It is the story of elves at the North Pole who sew magical pajamas that help children sleep on Christmas Eve, so Santa can visit unnoticed. Another fun Christmas tradition for families!
Mary says
My elf’s name is Coco. I’m wearing her this December on my Santa hat during my very first hot Chocolate Run!
Elfie says
lol you guys I love all these names, I just got my very own plush toy elf on the
Shelf. My mom surprised me when I got Bach home from
School I was so excited!He is so cute! I live being able to touch him. I think I am going to name him…snowball
Jamie says
Our Elf on the Shelf is Faith!
Abby says
I let my daughter name ours and she named him when he first visited our house she was two. His name is “number two”
christine says
Our elf is named Kyle! My son middle name after a little boy who passed away and the day he got his elf would have been Kyles birthday! I didn’t tell him he has to name him that he choose to name him that! and he is only 3!
Tania says
My daughter named her elf snowflake. I love when our elf comes out it is soooo much fun.
Chari says
Our elf is named Fragile (as in Fra-gee-lay from Christmas Story), but we just pronounce it like it is supposed to be prounounced!
Valerie says
We named our elf Toby, after Toby the elf from the Uncle Al Show in Cincinnati. Was my favorite TV show growing up as a little girl! 🙂
Gail says
Ours is named Even since our oldest is into Math, our kids named him.
Paula says
Our girl elf is named Glitzy after the pig from Honey Boo Boo!
Me.Jingles says
I am a preschool teacher and every year my preschool class gets to pick a name for our Elf. We have a semi small class party to welcome our Elf and I tell u our class Elf always comes up with the silliest ways to appear daily and my class loves it. I can guarantee that the month of Dec my class is the best pre-k class around. Lol
B says
We named our elf “Flitter”
Jenn says
My nieces named her Jessikah Kylee
Kelly says
We named our Elf “Tiki”. I don’t know where the name came from- we did let or toddler name him in 2009! We liked the name and she can’t wait for Tiki to arrive this year!
Sabrina says
We named our LuLu
michelle says
JACKSON…thwn ww found a tiny one in our decorations…so he hangs out qith him…named him Jack Jack
Heather says
Our daughter named ours, Gumdrop. I was surprised it wasn’t on the list. 😉
Naomi says
Our elf is named Wally. We are Boston Red Sox fans and he is named after the Green Monster.
jackie says
Ours is Cole because that’s what the kids are getting (coal) if they are bold!! 😉
Brandy says
Starlight is ours
Judy says
my girls names there elf Taylor because she’s a girl they love to wake up the next morning to see what she’s done threw t he night……….
Kara says
I have two kids so each got to pick a name when we got our elf last year…. My son, 7 at the time picked Jack (Jack Frost) and my daughter 4, chose potter, she is a Harry potter fan. So we ended up with jack potter elf. We will be adding a girl elf this christmas season.
renee says
My daughter named her’s Holly Jolly. She wanted her to get married so we are introducing a boy this yr. She already named him Mr. Holly Jolly..
Liz says
Jolly and Merry-Sparkles are scheduled to visit our house this year!
Lauren says
This is our first year with our two elfs. We have one of each and they are named Marshall and Molly!!!! Merry Christmas!!!⛄❄
Heather says
My kids named our Piper;)
erin says
Sillyness!
Amy says
We just got our elf she has been named “Chi Chi”, currently she’s missing and probably causing mischief!
Stephanie says
We named our new addition Sparkle Wishes!
Micki says
My daughter named her Elf Snowflake this is our first year doing this tradition and she arrived this morning!
Nikki says
We named ours Snowflake. I may be in the market for more then one elf though. I might have to invest in an army with my 3 children. Hahaha!
And Christine that as very sweet of your son to name his elf after an Angel boy.
Anonymous says
Eddie the elf
Karen Ferguson says
We have a boy and a girl, Oscar and Bella. this is our first year with Elf on the Shelf. , so much fun. I have 5 kids, 5 grand kids and 2 great grand kids and 1 more due in about 7 weeks. this is going a fun Christmas.
Doug says
My wife and I wanted started our son out with his elf before he could really talk well. So in honor of my grandfather ( Cedric) who passed away just before our son Blake was born and my wife’s grandfather James ,who left us shortly after Blake’s birth. CJ was born and the sprit of these wonderful loving fathers is forever with us in more ways than just our hearts.
Ralphie says
we love this name.
Deanna @ mommyGAGA says
Haha ours is #10, Elfie! Thanks for the list!
Hailey says
My elf on the shelfs name is Elfie and sallie.
Jill says
Cute stuff. We love our Elf on the Shelf. This year I gave them as “family gifts” to our married children and grandchildren but also kept one here for fun too. One set of grandkids came up with first and last names which I thought was very creative. She was named Lilly Candy. Following their lead our elf was named Stephen Silverbells. You may want to try adding a last name for added fun.
jaime says
We named our elf after Ollie in “March of the wooden soldiers”
Hannah says
This is the first year I’m doing it and I’m doing it in my classroom, but I think I’ll name him “Ovaltine”, as in the chocolate milk.
Ralphie says
It is amazing
Adrianna says
JINX
I came across this name at knew it was perfect! 🙂
My lo dosent talk yet but hopefully he thinks its as good of a name I do!
Kim says
Our elf is named Buddy. 🙂
Emily says
Why don’t you add Fred as a name.
Tyler says
This is so amazing we are thinking of naming him Buddy, Nike, or Champ!
E.M.R says
I named mine kris as in kris kringle
jen says
Ours is Kringle 🙂
Mona says
Our Elf’s name is Lenox. We’ve loved him for years! The kids are a little older now but always want Lenox back and enjoy his mischievous ways throughout the holiday season.
Nicole says
My kids came up with a name I would have never thought of, Elfis
gb says
we named our elfs Holly and Jimmy we love them
jinxisourelf says
JINX
i love my elf to death. he is so cute. so does the family. he fits right in
Ann says
We call our elf Floyd… Fun, quirky name which isn’t a “Christmas-y” name. A silly name just because!
Liz says
We named our elf Holly. We knew it was perfect. She makes the holidays so much fun.
Melvin says
We named our elf snowball.!.!.! He is so funny he moves like a dog.!.!.!
Felicia says
We have a boy and girl and they are named Cottonheaded & Ninnymuggins! If you’re a fan of Elf you’ll get it:)
Lady Olive says
When my family’s little boy went to Lapland, he met Santa’s four best helpers: Snowly Bowy, Tricky Dicky, Noisy Nod and Speedy Sam. I’m Speedy Sam!
Alice says
My son wants to know if we have to “register” our elf’s name…and if so, HOW??
jen says
Good question! No, there is no official registration, you just have to tell your Elf his/her name. Have fun with your Elf!
Natasha Holbert says
There is a way to register your elf’s name. You have to go on elfontheshelf.com… And register in there your elf’s name.. Then you can print out a “elf certificate” with your new elfs name on it. And you can print a letter from Santa… With your elf’s name in it. It’s pretty neat.
Kori says
I named my elf Ben he is funny.
Becky says
Ours are named Frolic & Sprite.
A boy and a girl 🙂
Christy Coy says
My daughter Dakota/Coco had no clue you were suppose to do that cause that is what it said you had to do to name it. But now we now so thank you Jen.:):):):):):):):):)
Shayla says
We named hours Marion because it is a Christmas name 😇
Margie says
We took the elf out of the box and I immediately heard the name SVEN. I’ve since learned the elf is a she and not a he?! Hmmm. Me thinks this elf is a bit mischievous! Could her name really be SONYA? She has yet to reveal her name to us!
Juliana says
just got an elf on the shelf
Grianne says
I just looked at the names and chose Buddy (elf) I love his name so much me and my brother could not decide on the name on the list or the name that my brother chose so the name Buddy(elf) is his first name and his second name is Shmuel if enybody thinks it is a bit rude or,if it is a bad word to say just reply and then I’ll change it because my brother will not tell me what it means bye 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
victoria says
:samta i would like a girl elf on the shelf
love: tori wendt
Amber says
My daughter named hers Peppermint Trixy
jovan says
we named our elf on the shelf peter