A few years ago, your only gift choices for your geeky friends and family were men's and women's T-shirts, but that's all in the past.
Geek culture has become mainstream.
"I would say that during the last five years, the geek chic business has grown tremendously," Ed Labay, vice president of merchandising at Hot Topic, told CNBC. "So many people and companies are trying to find their way into it."
Brands are no longer peddling T-shirts and action figures. Companies have adapted to serve customers in a wide variety of categories, including apparel, housewares, toys and health and beauty.
From "Game of Thrones" to "Star Wars" and "The Walking Dead" to "Halo," today's geek is more diverse than ever.
We have included links to buy the products we are highlighting. In some cases, if you purchase an item from our link, we will collect a small percentage of the sale. This has no impact on editorial decisions about what we are recommending. Proceeds from these sales will be donated to the Council for Economic Education, which supports economic and financial education.
Here's a look at some of the hottest geek gifts to hit shelves for the 2016 holiday season:
1. HerUniverse Spider Gwen jacket
Price: $52.42
Gwen Stacy has become an unlikely hero in the Marvel universe after an alternative story line saw the female character bitten by a radioactive spider instead of Peter Parker.
Spider Gwen has inspired a slew of merchandise including posters, figurines and even clothing.
The Spider Gwen jacket created by Her Universe and distributed through Hot Topic will set you back about $50 and features the super heroine's signature purple and turquoise spider web print sleeves and a hood.
"The business of pop culture has exploded," Labay told CNBC. "Expressing your passion for these stories and characters, and being able to do it in a more fashionable way, or at work, has brought a whole new level to being a fan. This fashion allows fans to embrace their own individual fandom interests in a way that could never be done with a basic T- shirt."
2. Backpacks
Price: $24.99 and up
Need something to hold all of your geeky gear? Show off your favorite fandom with wide variety of backpacks, purses and wallets available at ThinkGeek.com.
Whether you want a bag that boldly declares your love of Wonder Woman or you are looking for something a little less obvious, retailers are creating merchandise for all types of fans.
3. Design a lightsaber
Price: $54.99 and up
The lightsaber is a tool for Jedi and Sith alike. Design your own blade through Ultrasabers.
Pick your hilt, color and sound effects to create a personalized lightsaber that can be a piece of decor in your home or used as a stunt weapon. The sabers start at $54.99 for a basic hilt without sound or extra pieces and can cost $500 or more depending on your customization choices.
4. Doctor Who drink coasters
Price: $24 - $34
Show your love of Doctor Who and protect your coffee table from unwanted water stains.
While they may just look like a cool design to the untrained eye, you'll impress your Whovian friends with these Gallifreyan coasters.
5. Jamberry superhero nail stickers
Price: $18 per sheet
Are you team Iron Man or Captain America? You can be both with nail wraps from Jamberry.
The beauty company specializes in thin vinyl sheets that adhere to finger nails with heat and pressure. Jamberry has several superhero-themed wraps as well as a collection of other Disney wraps.
6. Star Trek Enterprise cutting board set
Price: $59.95
Queue up your favorite episode of Deep Space Nine and break out the cheese and crackers. This Star Trek Enterprise cutting board comes with a cheese knife and fork (hidden in the Enterprise's engines) and has slots for you to line up your crackers like a platoon of red shirts.
7. Litograph T-shirts, totes and scarves
Price: $24 and up
For the literary junkie in your life, Litographs has transcribed a number of books, poems, plays and screenplays onto T-shirts, totes, scarves and posters in unique designs.
Bookworms can now walk around wearing their favorite texts, including all 40,000 words from "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" in the shape of an atmospheric diving suit or "The Princess Bride" in the shape of Inigo Montoya. Inconceivable!
8. Superhero peacoat
Price: $249
Geek fashion isn't just for women. For a cold night in Gotham, suit up with Hero Within's Batman peacoat.
The jacket is designed with the iconic bat symbol stitched into the seams across the back panel of the coat.
"It's a subtle yet empowering way to express your fandom," the company writes on its website.
9. Funko Pop collectibles
Price: $6 and up
Collectibles aren't just for kids. Funko has become a cornerstone in the geek merchandise industry with its variety of pop culture figurines.
From "Game of Thrones" and "Harry Potter" to "Dragonball Z" and "Fallout," the company has more than 1,000 different licensed vinyl figures.
10. 'Game of Thrones' board games
Price: $49.99 and up
Rule Westros without leaving your living room. "Game of Thrones" has several licensed board games ranging from Risk to Clue.
You may not get to sit on the actual Iron Throne, but you can represent your favorite house and have a few goblets of wine.
11. 'Hamilton' mix-tape
Price: $14.99
Don't throw away your shot at hearing Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony Award winning musical sung by some of today's hottest stars.
The Roots, Alicia Keys, Kelly Clarkson, Sia, Usher, Regina Spektor, Jimmy Fallon, Common, John Legend, Wiz Khalifa and Chance The Rapper, among others, have lent their voices to this mixtape of famous "Hamilton" songs.
There are 23 songs on the album, including covers, remixes and several tunes inspired by the musical.
The album will be released on Dec. 2.
12. Harry Potter 'Fantastic Beasts' T-shirt
Price: $24.95
The newest obsession for "Harry Potter" fans is "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."
The film, penned by Potter author J.K. Rowling, takes place 55 years before the birth of Harry Potter, and revolves around Newt Scamander, a caretaker for magical creatures.
Featured in the new film is the Magical Threat Meter, a way for wizards at the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA) to diagnose the threat of magical exposure. The Harry Potter shop sells a T-shirt with the meter printed on the front for just under $25.
13. LootCrate subscription
Price: $8.99 per month & up
Not sure what to get for your geek friend? Lootcrate can help.
The "geek-approved" subscription service sends a curated collection of pop culture items to your door each month. The service offers a variety of boxes ranging from apparel to pet accessories to gaming to anime.
Prices range from $8.99 per month for T's and socks to $75 for a limited edition "Gears of War 4" crate. You can sign up for one month or pay head for a full year of boxes.
14. Scientist pint glasses
Price: $15 each
"Raise your glass to the radiant Madame Curie," says the folks at Cognitive Surplus.
The company makes quirky products, including mugs, baby clothes, T-shirts and stationary, for those who work in a variety of science occupations.
Biologists, chemists, geneticists and astronomers alike can enjoy a pint after a long day in the lab with Cognitive Surplus' series of scientist glasses.
Charles Darwin, Rosalind Franklin, Nikola Tesla and Richard Feynman are just a few of the faces to choose from.
