These are the top 100 Christmas songs according to Dave’s Music Database. 40 lists focused on Christmas songs were aggregated together and then the highest-ranking songs were reordered based on their overall status in Dave’s Music Database, which compiles multiple lists as well as chart performances, sales figures, and awards for songs.
Songs are listed first by songwriters and then the song in quotation marks. The year the song was published is listed in parentheses after the song title. If a specific performer is associated with the song, then that performer and the year of its release are listed in parentheses.
Click here to see other genre-specific song lists.
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Check out the Dave’s Music Database podcast The Top 25 Christmas Songs (premiere: December 24, 2023) based on this list.
1. “White Christmas” (written by Irving Berlin, performed by Bing Crosby, 1942)
2. “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” (written by Mel Tormé & Robert Wells, performed by Nat “King” Cole, 1946)
3. “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (written by Johnny Marks, performed by Gene Autry, 1949)
4. “Silent Night” (words: Joseph Mohr, music: Franz Gruber, English translation: John Freeman Young; performed by Bing Crosby, 1935)
5. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (written by Mariah Carey & Walter Afanasieff, performed by Carey, 1994)
6. “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” (music: Jule Styne, words: Sammy Cahn, performed by Vaughn Monroe, 1945)
7. “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” (written by J. Fred Coots & Haven Gillespie, 1934; highest-ranked version: Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters, 1944)
8. “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (written by Bob Geldof & Midge Ure, performed by Band Aid, 1984)
9. “Winter Wonderland” (music: Felix Bernard, words: Richard B. Smith, performed by Guy Lombardo, 1934)
10. “Jingle Bells” (written by James S. Pierpont, 1857; highest-ranked DMDB version: Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters, 1943)
11. “The Little Drummer Boy” (written by Harry Simeone, Katherine K. Davis, & Henry V. Onorati; performed by the Harry Simeone Chorale; 1958)
12. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” (written by Johnny Marks, performed by Brenda Lee, 1958)
13. “O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)” (songwriters unknown, 1751; highest-ranked version: John McCormack, 1915)
14. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” (written by Tommie Connor, performed by Jimmy Boyd & Norman Luboff’s Orchestra, 1952)
15. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” (music: Felix Mendelssohn, words: Charles Wesley, 1855; highest-ranked version: Trinity Choir, 1912)
16. “O Holy Night (Minuit, Chrétiens)” (written by Adolphe Adams & John Sullivan Dwight, 1847; highest-ranked version: Andy Williams, 1963)
17. “Joy to the World” (music: George Frideric Handel, words: Isaac Watts, arranged by Lowell Mason, 1719; highest-ranked version: Mormon Tabernacle Choir, 1970)
18. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (music by Walter Kent, words by Kim Gannon & Buck Ram; performed by Bing Crosby, 1943)
19. “Last Christmas” (written by George Michael, performed by Wham!, 1984)
20. “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” (written and performed by John Lennon & Yoko Ono, 1971)
21. “The First Noel” (written by Davies Gilbert, 1823; highest-ranked version: Nelson Eddy, 1961)
22. “Away in a Manger” (music: James Ramsey Murray, words: Charles H. Gabriel, 1882)
23. “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (written by Frank Loesser, performed by Johnny Mercer with Margaret Whiting, 1949)
24. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (words: Ralph Blane, music: Hugh Martin, performed by Judy Garland, 1944)
25. “Jingle Bell Rock” (written by Joe Beal & Jim Boothe, performed by Bobby Helms, 1957)
26. “We Three Kings of Orient Are” (written by John Henry Hopkins Jr., 1857)
27. “O Little Town of Bethlehem” (music: Lewis Redner, words: Phillips Brooks, 1868)
28. “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” (words: Rev. Edmund Hamilton Sears, music: Richard Storrs Willis, 1850)
29. “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” (written by Ross Badasarian, performed by David Seville & the Chipmunks, 1958)
30. “Wonderful Christmas Time” (written and performed by Paul McCartney, 1979)
31. “What Child Is This?” (words: William Chatterton Dix, music: “Greensleeves,” 1865)
32. “Blue Christmas” (written by Billy Hayes & Jay W. Johnson, performed by Elvis Presley, 1957)
33. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (words: John Mason Neale, music: traditional, 1851)
34. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” (traditional, 1760)
35. “Good King Wencelas” (written by John Mason Neale, 1860)
36. “Frosty the Snowman” (written by Steve Nelson & Walter E. Rollins, performed by Gene Autry, 1950)
37. “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth” (written by Donald Yetter Gardner, performed by Spike Jones, 1948)
38. “Fairytale of New York” (written by Jem Finer & Shane MacGowan, performed by the Pogues with Kirsty MacColl, 1987)
39. “Sleigh Ride” (written by Leroy Anderson & Mitchell Parish, performed by Anderson, 1949)
40. “Go Tell It on the Mountain” (written by John Wesley Work Jr., 1865)
41. “The Twelve Days of Christmas” (words: Frederic Austin, music: traditional, 1780)
42. “Merry Xmas Everybody” (written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, performed by Slade, 1973)
43. “Peace on Earth/The Little Drummer Boy” (written by Ian Fraser, Larry Grossman, Alan Kohan, Harry Simeone, Katherine K. Davis, & Henry V. Onorati ; performed by Bing Crosby & David Bowie, 1977)
44. “Deck the Halls” (words: Thomas Oliphant, music: “Nos Galan,” 1862)
45. “Angels We Have Heard on High” (paraphrased by James Chadwick, arranged by Edward Shippen Barnes, music: “Gloria,” 1862)
46. “I Saw Three Ships” (unknown, 1833)
47. “O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)” (words: Ernst Anschütz, music: “Ach Tannenbaum,” 1824)
48. “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” (written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich & Phil Spector; performed by Darlene Love; 1963)
49. “Silver Bells” (written by Jay Livingston & Ray Evans, performed by Bing Crosby, 1952)
50. “Santa Baby” (written by Joan Javits, Philip Springer, & Tony Springer; performed by Eartha Kitt; 1953)
51. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” (written by Edward Pola & George Wyle, 1963)
52. “Run Rudolph Run” (written by Johnny Marks & Marvin Brodie, performed by Chuck Berry, 1958)
53. “River” (written and performed by Joni Mitchell, 1971)
54. “Here Comes Santa Claus” (written by Gene Autry & Oakley Haldeman, performed by Autry, 1947)
55. “Mary’s Boy Child” (written by Jester Hairston, performed by Harry Belafonte, 1956)
56. “Please Come Home for Christmas” (written by Charles Brown & Gene Redd, performed by the Eagles, 1978)
57. “Feliz Navidad” (written and performed by José Feliciano, 1970)
58. “In Dulci Jubilo” (writer unknown, 1328)
59. “Christmas Wrapping” (written by Chris Butler, performed by the Waitresses, 1981)
60. “A Holly Jolly Christmas” (written by Johnny Marks, performed by Burl Ives, 1964)
61. “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays” (written by Robert Allen, performed by Perry Como, 1954)
62. “2000 Miles” (written by Chrissie Hynde, performed by the Pretenders, 1983)
63. “Pretty Paper” (written by Willie Nelson, performed by Roy Orbison, 1963)
64. “Christmas Time Is Here” (music: Vince Guaraldi, words: Lee Mendelson, performed by Guaraldi, 1965)
65. “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” (written by Meredith Wilson, performed by Perry Como, 1945)
66. “Little Saint Nick” (written by Brian Wilson & Mike Love, performed by the Beach Boys, 1963)
67. “Mistletoe” (written by Nasri Atweh, Adam Messinger, & Justin Bieber; performed by Bieber; 2011)
68. “Step into Christmas” (written by Elton John & Bernie Taupin, performed by John, 1973)
69. “Father Christmas” (written by Ray Davies, performed by the Kinks, 1977)
70. “Christmas in Hollis” (written by Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, & Jason Mizell; performed by Run-D.M.C., 1987)
71. “Do You Hear What I Hear?” (written by Harry Simeone, performed by Bing Crosby, 1963)
72. “I Believe in Father X-Mas” (written by Greg Lake & Peter Sinfield, performed by Lake, 1975)
73. “Carol of the Bells” (written by Peter J. Wilhousky & M. Leontovich, 1919)
74. “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” (written by Randy Brooks, performed by Elmo & Patsy, 1979)
75. “Merry Christmas Baby” (written by Lou Baxter & Johnny Moore, performed by Chuck Berry, 1958)
76. “Coventry Carol” (writer unknown, 1534)
77. “Thank God It’s Christmas” (written by Brian May & Roger Taylor, performed by Queen, 1984)
78. “Santa Tell Me” (written by Ariana Grande, Savan Kotecha, & Ilya; performed by Grande; 2013)
79. “Underneath the Tree” (written by Kelly Clarkson & Greg Kurstin, performed by Clarkson, 2013)
80. “Up on the Housetop” (written by Benjamin Hanby, 1864)
81. “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” (written by John Rox, performed by Gayla Reevey, 1953)
82. “This Christmas” (written by Donny Hathaway as Donny Pitts with Nadine Theresa McKinnor, performed by Hathaway, 1970)
83. “Christmas Is the Time to Say 'I Love You'” (written and performed by Billy Squier, 1981)
84. “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” (words: Theodor Geisel, music: Albert Hague, performed by Thurl Ravenscroft, 1966)
85. “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday” (written by Roy Wood, performed by Wizzard, 1973)
86. “Merry Christmas (I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight)” (written by Joey Ramone, performed by the Ramones, 1989)
87. “Christmas Island” (written by Lyle Moraine, performed by the Andrews Sisters, 1946)
88. “Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian Christmas Song)” (written by Robert Alex Anderson, performed by Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters, 1949)
89. “Christmas All Over Again” (written by Tom Petty, performed by Petty with the Heartbreakers, 1992)
90. “Merry Christmas Darling” (written by Frank Pooler & Richard Carpenter, performed by the Carpenters, 1970)
91. “We Need a Little Christmas” (written by Jerry Herman, performed by Percy Faith, 1966)
92. “Nuttin’ for Christmas” (written by Sid Tepper & Roy C. Bennett, performed by Barry Gordon, 1955)
93. “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” (arranged by Arthur Warrell, performed by Marian Anderson, 1968)
94. “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)” (performed by Trans-Siberian Orchestra, 1996)
95. “Hard Candy Christmas” (written by Carol Hall, performed by Dolly Parton, 1982)
96. “Someday at Christmas” (written by Ron Miller & Bryan Wells, performed by Stevie Wonder, 1967)
97. “What Christmas Means to Me” (performed by Stevie Wonder, 1967)
98. “Christmas Song” (written by Dave Matthews, performed by Dave Matthews Band, 1993)
99. “Merry Christmas” (written and performed by Ed Sheeran & Elton John, 2021)
100. “Christmas Time Is Here Again” (written by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, & Richard Starkey; performed by the Beatles; 1967)
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First posted 12/25/2011; last updated 12/24/2023. |
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