A Guide to Cactus Names: From Appearances to Pop Culture

Cacti are popular for their unique appearances, ranging from stout and round, to tall and columnar, to flat and prickly. As cacti have grown in popularity as houseplants, so too has the need for creative cactus names.

Whether you’re naming a cactus based on its appearances, or even after a character in a TV series or game, this guide provides a multitude of suggestions to help you find the perfect name.

Cactus Names Based on Appearances

Some cacti earn their names from unique physical attributes, making for interesting and descriptive choices:

1. Pin Cushion: For small, round cacti with a dense covering of spines, much like a pin cushion.
2. Spiky McSpikerson: For particularly prickly cacti.
3. Mr. Baldy: A great name for cacti species with few or no spines.
4. Starry Night: A perfect name for a cactus with a speckled appearance.
5. Paddle Pops: A fitting name for cacti with flat, paddle-like stems, like some Prickly Pears.
6. Spike Ball: For small, round cacti covered in spines.
7. Dome of Thorns: For globular cacti.
8. Green Tower: For tall and erect cacti.
9. Star Cluster: For a cactus with star-shaped arrangements of spines or flowers.
10. Needle Nest: For a cactus with an intricate network of spines.

Cactus Names Inspired by TV Series and Shows

For the television enthusiasts, why not name your cacti after some of your favorite characters? Here are some ideas:

1. Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer): A fitting name for a cactus with a rebellious, prickly attitude.
2. Groot (Guardians of the Galaxy): For tall, stately cacti that remind you of this beloved tree-like character.
3. Mr. Pricklepants (Toy Story 3): A wonderful name for a cactus with an extra prickly exterior.
4. Cactuar (Final Fantasy Series): Named after the iconic cactus-like creature from this popular video game series.
5. Prickly Sheldon (The Big Bang Theory): For fans of this show, and particularly suitable for a cactus with a prickly exterior but endearing nature.
6. Cactyrian (Game of Thrones): Combining ‘Cactus’ with ‘Tyrion,’ a major character from Game of Thrones.
7. Spike Bauer (24): After the fearless protagonist, Jack Bauer, of the TV series 24.
8. Walter Spikewhite (Breaking Bad): A play on Walter White’s name, the lead character from Breaking Bad.
9. Doctor Prickles (Doctor Who): For fans of the long-running British sci-fi show.
10. Spike Draper (Mad Men): A homage to the charismatic ad man, Don Draper.
11. Thorny Underwood (House of Cards): After the ambitious character Frank Underwood.
12. Prickly Piper (Orange Is the New Black): Inspired by the main character Piper Chapman.
13. Spike Snow (Game of Thrones): A nod to the character Jon Snow.
14. Thorny Dunphy (Modern Family): After the quirky character Phil Dunphy.

Cactus Names from Anime

Anime offers a wide range of unique and creative names for your cacti:

1. Cactusama (One Punch Man): Inspired by the main character, Saitama, of One Punch Man.
2. Spikuto (Naruto): A blend of ‘Spike’ and ‘Naruto.’
3. Thornyji (Bleach): Taking inspiration from the character Ichigo Kurosaki.
4. Prickliyasha (Inuyasha): For fans of the classic anime Inuyasha.
5. CactuZ (Dragon Ball Z): A mashup of ‘Cactus’ and ‘DBZ.’
6. Spike Bebop (Cowboy Bebop): A nod to the iconic anime series.
7. Thorny Alchemist (Fullmetal Alchemist): Inspired by the fantastical series.
8. Prickly Titan (Attack on Titan): Perfect for an imposingly large cactus.
9. Spike Ball Z (Dragon Ball Z): A playful name inspired by the classic anime.
10. Needle Ghoul (Tokyo Ghoul): For a cactus that’s a bit on the scary side.

Cactus Names From Games

Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) and other fantasy role-playing games provide an endless source of unique names:

1. Thornwhip: A spell from DnD that summons a vine covered in thorns, perfect for a prickly cactus.
2. Barkskin: Another spell name that could suit a tough, resilient cactus.
3. Cactomite: An invented creature name combining cactus and the suffix -mite, which is commonly used in fantasy games for various monster names.
4. Spikegrowth: A spell that covers an area with hard spikes, reminiscent of a field of cacti.
5. Prickly Ent: Combining the Ents, or tree beings, from fantasy lore with a cactus’ prickly nature.
6. Spikecraft (Minecraft): For fans of the sandbox video game Minecraft.
7. CactiCrossing (Animal Crossing): Perfect for lovers of this relaxing Nintendo game.
8. Thornvahkiin (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim): A play on ‘Dovahkiin,’ the protagonist’s title in Skyrim.
9. Prickly Plumber (Super Mario Bros.): Inspired by the beloved Nintendo character Mario.
10. Thorny Legend (League of Legends): Ideal for a houseplant in a gamer’s sanctuary.
11. Prickly Scroll (Elder Scrolls): Inspired by the high fantasy role-playing games.
12. NeedleField (Battlefield): For a cactus as tough as the popular first-person shooter game.
13. Spike Soul (Dark Souls): Inspired by the notoriously challenging game.

Cactus Names From Board Games

Board games can also provide a wealth of name ideas for your cactus:

1. Cactan (Settlers of Catan): For fans of the popular strategy board game.
2. Thorny Ticket (Ticket to Ride): Suitable for a cactus in a home with this railway-themed board game.
3. Thorny Kingdom (Dominion): A homage to the strategy card game.
4. Needle Wars (Risk): A clever play on the strategy game of diplomacy and conquest.
5. Prickly Island (Forbidden Island): For fans of cooperative survival games.

Cactus Names From Comic Books

Comic books offer an endless source of cool cactus names:

1. Cacti-Man (Spider-Man): A playful spin on Spider-Man’s name.
2. Thorny Thor (Thor): A name that captures the might of this Marvel hero.
3. Prickly Panther (Black Panther): For a cactus as regal as this Marvel character.
4. Spike Kent (Superman): Clark Kent’s cactus alter ego.
5. Cactus Widow (Black Widow): Perfect for a strong, resilient cactus.
6. Thorny Quinn (Harley Quinn): A name fitting for a sassy, vibrant cactus.
7. Spike Strange (Doctor Strange): Perfect for a cactus with a mystical aura.
8. Prickly Goblin (Green Goblin): A cheeky name for a Spider-Man antagonist.
9. Thorny Hulk (The Hulk): For a cactus with a larger-than-life presence.

Wrapping it up

Naming a cactus can be a fun and creative process. Whether you lean towards scientific, appearance-based, or pop culture-themed names, there’s no shortage of possibilities. Have fun exploring different naming styles and themes, and remember – the best cactus name is the one that makes you smile whenever you see your prickly friend.