30 Best 90s Christmas Songs, from Mariah Carey to NSYNC and Home Alone

What is the most popular 90s Christmas song?

"All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey, released in 1994, is not only the most popular 90s Christmas song but the most-streamed Christmas song ever, reaching number one again decades after its release. The rest of the decade belongs to "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, "Let It Snow" by Boyz II Men and "Please Come Home for Christmas" by Bon Jovi.

90s pop and R&B Christmas songs

1. "All I Want for Christmas Is You", Mariah Carey (1994): the modern standard.
2. "Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)", Mariah Carey (1994): a slow song about missing someone.
3. "Jesus Born on This Day", Mariah Carey (1994): a gospel-style original.
4. "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town", Mariah Carey (1994): a playful cover from the same album.
5. "Let It Snow", Boyz II Men (1993): smooth harmonies with Brian McKnight.
6. "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays", NSYNC (1998): the boy band Christmas anthem.
7. "The Christmas Song", Christina Aguilera (1999): a big-voiced take on the Nat King Cole classic.
8. "Hey Santa!", Carnie and Wendy Wilson (1993): a bright pop original.
9. "Christmas Through Your Eyes", Gloria Estefan (1993): a tender ballad.
10. "Joy to the World", Whitney Houston (1996): a gospel celebration from The Preacher's Wife.
11. "Who Would Imagine a King", Whitney Houston (1996): a gentle lullaby from the same film.
12. "Stay Another Day", East 17 (1994): the UK Christmas number one, with sleigh bells and a snowy video.

90s rock Christmas songs

13. "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24", Trans-Siberian Orchestra (1996): carols played as heavy rock.
14. "Christmas Canon", Trans-Siberian Orchestra (1998): Pachelbel's Canon with a children's choir.
15. "Please Come Home for Christmas", Bon Jovi (1992): the power ballad version.
16. "Christmas All Over Again", Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1992): jangly and joyful.
17. "Christmastime", Smashing Pumpkins (1997): an unexpectedly sweet song.
18. "Christmas Song", Dave Matthews Band (1993): the story of Jesus' life, told in a folk-rock song.

90s Christian Christmas songs and ballads

19. "Grown-Up Christmas List", Amy Grant (1992): a wish for peace instead of presents.
20. "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)", Amy Grant (1992): the nativity from Mary's point of view.
21. "Mary, Did You Know?": first recorded in 1991 and now sung in churches everywhere.
22. "O Holy Night", Celine Dion (1998): a soaring version of the carol.
23. "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day", Celine Dion (1998): about showing love all year.
24. "The Prayer", Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli (1998): a duet that became a holiday favorite.

90s country Christmas songs

25. "Honky Tonk Christmas", Alan Jackson (1993): a two-step for the holidays.
26. "The Old Man's Back in Town", Garth Brooks (1992): a rollicking Santa song.
27. "Merry Christmas from the Family", Robert Earl Keen (1994): the funniest family Christmas in country music.

90s Christmas movie songs

28. "Somewhere in My Memory", John Williams (1990): the theme from Home Alone.
29. "All Alone on Christmas", Darlene Love (1992): from Home Alone 2.
30. "What's This?", Danny Elfman (1993): Jack discovering Christmas Town in The Nightmare Before Christmas.

90s Christmas songs for karaoke

"All I Want for Christmas Is You" is the most requested karaoke song of the season, but the high notes are hard: try "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" or "Hey Santa!" for an easier win. "Let It Snow" works for a group of friends sharing the harmonies, and "Grown-Up Christmas List" is the ballad for the strongest singer in the room.

90s Christmas songs for kids

Kids today know the 90s classics too: "All I Want for Christmas Is You" from every store and school concert, "What's This?" from The Nightmare Before Christmas and the Home Alone songs from the movies families still watch every year. "Hey Santa!" is short and easy to sing along to.

Why the 90s still own Christmas radio

Kids who grew up in the 90s are now the parents making the playlists, and the songs of their childhood come with them. Mariah Carey's album alone added three standards, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra turned carols into arena rock, and Home Alone made two songs part of every family's December.

A 90s Christmas party playlist

• Open with the hits: "All I Want for Christmas Is You", "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" and "Hey Santa!".
• Add the rock: "Christmas All Over Again" and "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24".
• Bring the movies: "All Alone on Christmas" and "What's This?".
• Close with a ballad: "Grown-Up Christmas List" or "Let It Snow".

For more party ideas, see our Christmas dance songs and Christmas karaoke songs.

Christmas songs from the 70s and 80s

For the decades before, see our lists of 70s Christmas songs, with "Feliz Navidad" and "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)", and 80s Christmas songs, with "Last Christmas" and "Do They Know It's Christmas?". For church services, see our Christian Christmas songs.

A Christmas song for a 90s kid

For a sibling, partner or friend who grew up on this music, a personalized Christmas song in a pop or R&B style is a fun gift: their name, their favorite traditions and the year's best moments, with a sound straight out of 1994. See our guide on how to give a song as a Christmas gift.

For the top 100 across every style and decade, see our list of the greatest Christmas songs of all time.

How to create a Christmas song as a gift

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: pop, R&B, rock, country and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three moments from the year and a few Christmas traditions.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give them their own Christmas hit: create a Christmas song and hear four previews for free.