Reindeer Names
Santa’s reindeer were first named in the 1823 poem  by Clement Clark Moore, "A Visit from St. Nicholas,” more commonly known as “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The names they are given are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Dunder, and Blixem.  Dunder was later changed to Donder and—in other works—Donner, which in German means "thunder."  Blixem was later changed to Bliksem, then Blitzen, which is German for "lightning."
Some consider Rudolph as part of the group as well, though he was not part Moore’s famous poem. Rudolph was added by Robert L. May in 1939 as "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." The story first came to life as an advertisement for the Montomery Ward Department Store as a coloring book. Montgomery Ward gave away a coloring book each year to the children who came to have their pictures taken with Santa Clause. The story became so popular that it has been adapted into many film and print versions since.