You've seen the 1964 Rankin/Bass special a thousand times. Every December, that jerky stop-motion charm hits the screen, and we all hum along with a banjo-strumming snowman. But here’s the thing: most of us have been getting the names of Rudolph characters slightly wrong for decades. Or, at the very least, we’ve forgotten the weird, fascinating lore behind why these characters even exist.
It isn't just a story about a reindeer with a glowing nose. It’s a bizarre collection of misfits, prospectors, and dentistry-obsessed elves that shouldn't work together on paper, yet somehow they became the definitive version of Christmas for generations.
The "Herbie" Mandela Effect and Other Name Mishaps
Let's start with the biggest offender. If you call the little blonde elf "Herbie," you’re part of a massive group of people suffering from a holiday Mandela Effect. His name is Hermey. With a "y."
Honestly, it’s a weird name. Hermey isn't just an elf; he's a revolutionary. While every other elf in Christmastown is content making blocks and dolls, Hermey is reading medical textbooks under his covers. He’s the first character we meet who challenges the status quo, and his name has become synonymous with being a "misfit." Interestingly, in the original script and various early drafts, his name was actually established as Hermey, yet the "Herbie" misnomer persists in pop culture like a stubborn cold.
Then there’s the Bumble. You might know him as the Abominable Snow Monster of the North, but to the locals (and the production crew), he’s just the Bumble. The name sounds almost cute, which is hilarious considering he spends eighty percent of the special trying to eat the protagonists. He doesn't actually have a "real" name like Steve or Bob; "Bumble" is essentially his species and his moniker all rolled into one.
The Reindeer Hierarchy: Donner vs. Donder
The names of Rudolph characters get even stickier when you look at the family tree. Rudolph’s father is Donner. Now, if you’re a fan of the original Clement Clarke Moore poem, you might be shouting, "It’s Donder!" and you’d be right... historically.
The 1823 poem used "Dunder and Blixem" (Dutch for thunder and lightning). By the time Johnny Marks wrote the Rudolph song in 1949, it had shifted to Donner. The TV special doubled down on this. But did you know Rudolph’s mother doesn't even have a name in the special? She is simply credited and referred to as Mrs. Donner.
Here’s a breakdown of the core reindeer cast you might’ve missed:
🔗 Read more: Star Wars Who is Rey: Why Her Identity Still Sparks So Much Debate
- Fireball: The young buck with the shock of red hair who is Rudolph’s first "friend" before the nose reveal.
- Clarice: Rudolph’s love interest. She’s one of the few characters who shows him unconditional kindness before he becomes a hero.
- Coach Comet: The drill sergeant of the Reindeer Games.
- Clarice’s Father: Often forgotten, but he’s the one who sternly tells Clarice she cannot be seen with a "red-nosed reindeer."
Yukon Cornelius and the Mystery of the Licked Pickaxe
If Rudolph is the heart of the story, Yukon Cornelius is the caffeine. He’s the "Greatest Prospector of the North!" and he spends the entire movie tossing his pickaxe into the air, letting it hit the ground, and then licking the metal.
For years, kids thought he was tasting for gold or silver. But if you watch the restored versions or the deleted scenes, the truth is much more practical. Yukon wasn't looking for precious metals. He was looking for a Peppermint Mine.
Eventually, he finds it. That’s why he licks the pickaxe. He’s looking for that sweet, minty taste. It's a small detail, but it changes his entire motivation from greed to... well, a sugar craving. Yukon’s dogs also have names, though they aren't often mentioned: a Poodle, a Cocker Spaniel, a Saint Bernard, a Dachshund, and a Beagle. It’s a mismatched pack for a mismatched man.
The Island of Misfit Toys: Who Are These People?
The names of Rudolph characters on the Island of Misfit Toys are where things get truly surreal. You have a winged lion named King Moonracer who spends his nights flying around the world collecting unloved toys. Why a lion? Why wings? Romeo Muller, the writer, never really explained it. He just liked the imagery.
Then there’s the actual "Misfits":
- Charlie-in-the-Box: He’s a Jack-in-the-box, but his name is Charlie. That’s the whole "fault." It’s a branding error.
- The Spotted Elephant: A footman for the King.
- Dolly for Sue: This is the one that bothered people for years. She looks perfectly normal. Why is she a misfit?
- A Boat that Sinks: Self-explanatory.
- A Gun that Shoots Jelly: Actually sounds kind of awesome, but apparently, kids in the 60s wanted real lead.
For decades, fans theorized that Dolly for Sue was a misfit because she had psychological issues—specifically, she felt unloved. In 2005, Arthur Rankin Jr. finally cleared it up: Dolly was a misfit because she was cast off by her owner and suffered from depression. That’s pretty heavy for a children’s special.
Behind the Voices: A Canadian Secret
While Sam the Snowman was voiced by the legendary American folk singer Burl Ives, almost the entire rest of the cast was Canadian.
Billie Mae Richards, a woman in her 40s at the time, provided the voice of Rudolph. She had a specific way of capturing that "young boy" cracking voice that made Rudolph sound vulnerable. Paul Soles voiced Hermey, and Larry D. Mann gave us the boisterous Yukon Cornelius. Because the production was "union-protected" in the U.S. but used Canadian voice talent to save on costs, many of these actors didn't receive the massive royalties you'd expect from the most famous Christmas special in history.
The Legacy of the Names
The names of Rudolph characters have become a sort of shorthand for being an outsider. When we talk about a "Hermey" or a "Yukon," we aren't just talking about a cartoon; we’re talking about the idea that what makes you different is exactly what makes you valuable.
The special was actually based on a 1939 booklet written by Robert L. May for Montgomery Ward. May considered naming the reindeer Rollo or Reginald before settling on Rudolph. Can you imagine singing "Rollo the Red-Nosed Reindeer"? It just doesn't have the same ring to it.
Actionable Next Steps for Holiday Fans
If you want to experience the "real" story of these characters, your next step is to track down the original 1964 "Fame and Fortune" sequence.
For a few years, the song "We're a Couple of Misfits" was replaced by a song called "Fame and Fortune." Most modern broadcasts have switched back to the "Misfits" version because it fits the characters better, but seeing the "Fame and Fortune" version gives you a glimpse into how the producers almost took the characters in a much more commercial direction. Also, keep an eye out for the "Peppermint Mine" scene—it’s often cut for time in standard TV broadcasts but is essential for understanding the true madness of Yukon Cornelius.