So you got an Elf on the Shelf and now it needs a name. We are here to help you with how to pick your Elf on the Shelf’s name and Elf name ideas! We have Girl Elf on the Shelf Names, Boy Elf on the Shelf names, and Holiday-themed Elf on the Shelf name ideas to help you! This Elf Names Idea list is perfect for the kids and we have included tips on naming your Elf on the Shelf!
We have had our elves for 10 years so we have lots of knowledge and tips on everything Elf on the Shelf that we are excited to share with you. First up is how to name your Elf on the Shelf because that can be one of the more difficult things when starting to have Elfy fun in your house.

How to Name Your Elf on the Shelf
We love all things Christmas in our house and of course being a kid’s site that loves Christmas there has to be Elf on the Shelf fun and ideas and I am excited to share with you all my love for Elf on the Shelf and all the fun we like to have.
Part of the fun of getting started with Elf on the Shelf is giving your elf a name. Once you adopt your elf it will need a name! But how do you name an elf on the shelf? Well to be honest it is just like when you are naming your kids, however, the kids get to do all the work for this one!
I remember when my kids got their first Elf, George Twinkle, 10 years ago. Naming him was quite easy as the kids were younger. Then when we got our second elf, Snow it was a bit more challenging because they had more of an opinion. I wish there had been a list to help me have a limited number of names for the kids to pick form instead of the unlimited ideas of what popped into their heads.
Of course just like when parents get stuck on what to name their kids, kids get stuck on what to name their elf when they get it. That is why we came up with this Elf Names Ideas list and a printable to go with it.

Tips for Naming your Elf on the Shelf
Pick a name that can be kept forever. Every year the elf on the shelf comes back, so it is important to pick a name that you love and one that your kids will continue to want to use year after year. What a 3 year old might want to name their elf now may not be something that they would enjoy having as its name when they are 7 or 8 and it is important to keep that in mind.
Give Elf a long name if needed. If you have a few kiddos then they might have trouble agreeing on a name, in that case, we say give the elf a first name and a middle name (and if you need to, a second middle name), and then everyone is happy.
Use the printable Elf Names Ideas list. To make things easy I have created an Elf on the Shelf Name list printable that you can include when your new elf arrives to help the kids with picking their new elf’s name. I have included the list of Elf on the Shelf Names in this post but having the printable makes things much easier!
Print out an Adoption Certificate. After you name your elf on the shelf, one of our favorite things to do is give the Elf their Official Elf Adoption Certificate. You can grab one here.
Elf on the Shelf Printables
- Elf on the Shelf Tic Tac Toe
- Elf on the Shelf BINGO Game
- Elf Kissing Booth Printable Prop
- Elf Pizza Shop Printable
- Elf Cookie Shop Prop Printable
- Elf on the Shelf Rules Printable

Print the Elf on the Shelf Names Printable
To get the printable just fill out the form and then you will get the printable in your e-mail inbox. There are no watermarks on the printables so there will be no questions from the kids about where the list came from.
Girl Elf on the Shelf Name Ideas
Maddie
Rosie
Cindy
Clara
Gloria
Mary
Natalia
Natasha
MaryAnne
Hope
Belle
Bella
Faith
Joy
Ginger
Pixie
Boy Elf on the Shelf Names
George
Fred
Freddy
Caleb
Christian
Arthur
Ember
David
Cole
Matthew
Zane
Theo
Theodore
Frederick
Gabriel
Nicholas
Holiday Themed Elf on the Shelf Ideas
Gingersnap
Eve
Merry
Snow
Mistletoe
Twinkle toes
Tinsel
Angel
Christmas
Sugarplum
Peppermint
North
Pearl
Twinkle
Snow
Snowflake
I hope this list of Elf on the shelf names helps you and your family when you are picking out what to name your Elf on the Shelf.