Boy · #10,798 in 2026

Cactus

A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word cactus derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek word κάκτος (káktos), a name originally used by Theophrastus for a spiny plant whose identity is now not certain. Cacti occur in a wide range of shapes and sizes.

Current Rank
#10,798
Peak Rank
#10,798 (2019)
Total Babies
6
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2019
First Year
2019
Last Year
2019
Peak Year
#10798
Peak Rank
6
Total Count
1
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Cactus

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word cactus derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek word κάκτος (káktos), a name originally used by Theophrastus for a spiny plant whose identity is now not certain. Cacti occur in a wide range of shapes and sizes.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Cactus

American parents first put Cactus on the record books as a baby boy name in 2019, with 6 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2019, when 6 Cactuss were born — ranking #10,798 that year. Cactus last appeared in the published SSA data in 2019, with 6 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 6 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 2010s to the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Cactus

Phonetically similar names — useful when Cactus is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Kaktus
  • Catus
  • Cactis
  • Catas
  • Cacus
  • Coitus
  • Caucus
  • Cacti
  • Coccus
  • Cocus
  • Cadis
  • Cottus

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cactus

What does the name Cactus mean?
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word cactus derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek word κάκτος (káktos), a name originally used by Theophrastus for a spiny plant whose identity is now not certain. Cacti occur in a wide range of shapes and sizes.
How popular is Cactus in 2026?
In 2026, Cactus ranks #10,798 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Cactus most popular?
Cactus reached its peak popularity in 2019, ranking #10,798 that year with 6 babies given the name.
Is Cactus a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Cactus is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Cactus?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Cactus include Renick, Jamson, Nielsen. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Renick
Peak #10798
👦
Jamson
Peak #10798
👦
Nielsen
Peak #10798
👦
Jerrison
Peak #10798
👦
Sadi
Peak #10798
👦
Zamian
Peak #10798
👦
Channce
Peak #10798
👦
Jayar
Peak #10798

About the name Cactus

Cactus is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2019 and has accumulated 6 births in the dataset. Cactus's peak popularity came in 2019 when it ranked #10,798. Use the chart and map above to compare Cactus's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.