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.
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
Cactus first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2019, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2019, when 6 Cactuss were born — ranking #10,798 that year. As of 2026, Cactus ranks #10,798 for baby boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 6 Cactuss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
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?
How popular is Cactus in 2026?
When was Cactus most popular?
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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
- Top names of 2019 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "C" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.