Save Gender Masculine Usage Literature, Popular Culture Pronounced Pron. DAWN-dər(English) DUN-dər(English) [key] Other Forms FormsDonner, Donnor, Dunder, Dundor Meaning & History Derived from the Dutch word donder meaning "thunder". Popularized by the reindeer in the story 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and the song Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, even though the reindeer was originally named Dunder.