What’s Santa’s Personality Type?

Santa Claus is coming to town! If you were to hide behind the door and surprise this jolly old man into staying for a chat, what would you expect? Who is the man behind the myth?

Is he the mall Santa Claus? A rascal in it for the politics, publicity and a fast buck?

Is he the office Santa? Extraverted, the center of every party and into everyone’s business?

Is he one of the multitude of movie Santas? A little like elderly neighbor Papa Noel, on the street corner ringing his bell, or perhaps the European St. Nicholas or Kris Kringle, dedicated to anonymous altruistic endeavors?

It’s safe to say that Santa has been portrayed as every personality type over the years. Shared by a global community, with an appeal for everyone, it makes sense. For our purposes today, we’re looking into the vintage American Father Christmas. The Santa who arrived in New York and morphed into a late 1800s phenomenon.

The guy who didn’t know that one day his gift list would include a sleigh load of technology toys and end up with a tracking beacon on said sleigh. The guy who’s coming to your house.

Will he be happy with your surprise visit or will it land you on the naughty list?

What is Santa’s personality type? Let’s take a closer look.

INFJ: Santa is a Counselor

INFJs are all about others. They are dedicated, fostering and have a talent for knowing what others need. Sound familiar? Their personal integrity and idealism drive them to do things to make the world a better place. And Santa…well, he definitely balances a passion to do good and connect with people with a private way to accomplish it.

Let’s break his personality down

I / Introverted: As much as we’d love Santa to stay and party with us during the season, it isn’t going to happen. The case for Santa’s introversion is fairly ironclad. He lives in the North Pole and doesn’t hold interviews. He’s equally yoked to a woman who never leaves home, and between them, they have all the company they need, thank you very much. He’s reclusive for 364 days of the year and elusive on the one day he leaves home.

When he ventures out on Christmas Eve, he goes alone. No need for someone to chat with on the job. Not even a radio on. He is pursuing silence and travels in the dead of night so no one will see him. Do you know what a reindeer says? That’s right. Nothing.

Everyone must be asleep before he bothers with the chimney and if you try to catch him in the act of delivery, he might be upset enough to skip your house in the future. Introverts spend a little of their energy with every personal interaction and for Santa, the world is standing in line. Even flying solo, after he’s done, it takes him an entire year to recharge.

Elves, you say? Yes. They don’t live under the same roof. The factory is run by professionals and all they need from Santa is his list. Santa spends his day with the paper and a cup of coffee. He is living the Introvert’s energy-management dream.

N / Intuitive: The case for Santa’s possible Sensing personality is brief and easily dismissed. He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake, yes. And we know parents send him regular updates, the closer to Christmas we get. But he doesn’t rely on his Senses to process this incoming Christmas information.

How does he find out if you’re naughty or nice? Santa doesn’t need to chat up the family before bringing the presents. He Intuits what will make the child the most happy, and it’s not always what the parent or child requested! How is he doing this? Intuitives are interested in theories and explanations. They are interested in the future more than the past and use today as an opportunity for growth.

Santa’s Intuition informs him, and he follows his gut. (There’s no denying he has a generous one!) With a leisurely year to sort his lists, his creative Intuitive personality is what he uses to gather information for his purposes.

F / Feeling: The kids aren’t supposed to shout, cry, pout or be bad but you know how that goes. Parents threaten that the big guy is going to leave nothing but coal in their stockings, and it would go a long way toward reinforcing consequences to behavior. What could be more logical? Lucky for the kids, Santa is not a Thinker when he makes his decisions.

Feelers make decisions with their hearts. The parents’ threats are empty ones. Generous and kind, Santa’s imperative is to people-please forever. His one goal is to deliver joy and happiness. Friendly and supportive, Santa brings gifts anyway, and no one has ever received a lump of coal instead.

By the way, don’t think he samples your cookies and milk because he’s hungry. The man’s in a hurry but he stops to drop you a compliment. It’s compulsive to his personality. This Feeler cares about how his decisions affect you and won’t hurt your feelings by leaving the treat untouched.

J / Judging: Is there anyone more structured than Santa? Have you ever known him to deviate from his plan? A spontaneous Perceiver, he is not. Focused and predictable, Santa is a Judging personality type, and oh what fun it is!

Santa approaches his big night with the masterful organization of a CEO and the backing of a well-oiled machine. His team of elves spent a year following the master plan, and it’s magical once the show begins. Logistics have been honed, split-second timing is key. He has a list and checks it twice and his bag is a wonder of efficiency. He will not be sorting things in your living room, second-guessing his list, or changing his mind.

Do you know what happens if you confront a Judger with a last-minute hiccup in his perfect plan? Many a Christmas story has asked this question because we all know Santa does not do glitches or last-minute switches. He takes care of business. When Rudolf showed up that fateful night, make no mistake. Rudolf was an instant hero in Santa’s Judging eyes.

Enneagram 2w3: Santa is a Giver

Of course Santa is The Giver! Type Twos are altruistic, generous and empathetic. They want to belong. Centered with heartfelt emotional connections, they are motivated by being loved and value inclusion and recognition. Other famous Twos include Dolly Parton, Mother Teresa, Maya Angelou, Celine Dion and Jimmy Carter, although we're not entirely sure what to make of that. 

Enneagram 2: Inwardly

• Approval-seeking. Santa cares if you like him. It’s a badge of honor that you liked what he chose for you. And a thank you note makes his entire year.
• Kindness counts. Santa is jolly, never cross or frightening. Perhaps he has a mischievous twinkle in his eye, but he is invariably kind.
• Purpose is key. Customer service and public relations are the ways Santa perceives what he does. Quality matters, and gifting is how he communicates.

Enneagram 2: Outwardly

• Approachable. There are no strangers in Santa’s world. You are all family. Helpful, caring and nurturing, Santa is a skilled listener who radiates kindness with a warm smile.
• Activist. Santa works for what he values and he volunteers to do something about his vision of the world. No one pays Santa!
• Team player. Santa does not say no when others ask for things. He works with his elves around the clock in harmony, efficiency and patience.

With his Myers and Briggs and Enneagram types, Santa is a guy whose emotional intelligence and intuitive abilities come in handy for gifting those around him with the right thing at the right time. If you catch him in the act, don’t expect a chat. Instead, accept the words of Clement Clarke Moore, when he tried it: Santa “turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, ‘Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”