Romeo the Red-Nosed Reindeer

An early list of potential names for the world's most famous reindeer

Welcome to the 30th issue of the Lists of Note newsletter: a new (old) list each Sunday. You can support this project by becoming a paid subscriber, or by donating, or by purchasing a copy of the Lists of Note book (in which this particular list can also be found). Thanks.

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Cover art to the first edition of the classic holiday tale about the small reindeer that helped Santa Claus. Written by Robert L. May in 1939 as a holiday promotional booklet. Artist: Robert L. May (Photo by Pierce Archive LLC/Buyenlarge via Getty Images)

35-year-old Robert May was working as an advertising copywriter for a department store when, in early 1939, his boss tasked him with writing a “cheery” book to give to the store’s customers that year. The one he came up with months later was Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It was subsequently handed out, for free, to 2.5 million shoppers in the first year alone, and luckily for May, his boss transferred all rights to him in 1946. The list seen below offers a snapshot of what could have been—an early list of names being considered for the reindeer, penned in May’s hand. Early favourites were Rollo, Reginald and the eventual winner.

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Image courtesy of The Robert L. May Co.

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Rodney
Roddy
Roderik
Rudolph
Rudy
Rollo
Roland
Reggy
Reginald
Romeo