<P> `` I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas '' is a Christmas novelty song written by John Rox ( 1902 -- 1957 ) and performed by Gayla Peevey ( 10 years old at the time ) in 1953 . The song peaked at number 24 on Billboard magazine 's pop chart in December 1953 . </P>
who sang original i want a hippopotamus for christmas
Gayla Peevey