May's poem was later adapted into a by his brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, in 1949. The song became a massive success, topping the charts and selling millions of copies. It's been translated into over 25 languages and has been recorded by countless artists, including Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald.
But here's a funny fact: Rudolph was almost named Reginald! May's wife, Virginia, convinced him to change the name to something more catchy and memorable. And thank goodness she did, because Rudolph just sounds way more festive than Reginald!