Cactus
A succulent plant adapted to hot, dry climates.
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Cactus. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Cactus today is around 7 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Cactus births was 2019 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Cactus. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Cactus. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
2019
6 babies that year
Average age
7
years old
2019 SSA rank
#10,994
Tracked since 2019
Popularity
Cactus: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Cactus by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Cactus during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Cactus
The name Cactus is a relatively modern name that has gained popularity in recent decades. Its origins can be traced back to the English word "cactus," which was derived from the Greek word "kaktos," meaning "thistle plant."
The term "cactus" was first used in the 16th century to describe the prickly plants native to the Americas. It was brought to Europe by Spanish explorers and quickly became a popular term for these unique and hardy plants. While the name Cactus is not directly related to any ancient cultures or historical figures, its connection to the natural world and its unique sound have made it an attractive choice for parents seeking a distinctive name for their child.
The earliest recorded use of Cactus as a first name is believed to date back to the late 20th century. One of the first notable individuals to bear the name was Cactus Moser, an American drummer and musician born in 1957. He is best known for his work with the country music band Highway 101.
Another famous individual with the name Cactus is Cactus Cuadra, an Argentine boxer born in 1976. He was a former World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight champion and is considered one of the greatest boxers from Argentina.
In the world of literature, Cactus Flower is the name of a 1965 Broadway play by Abe Burrows, which was later adapted into a film in 1969. The play's title character, Cactus Flower, is an eccentric and free-spirited woman who becomes entangled in a complicated romantic situation.
Another notable individual with the name Cactus is Cactus Moser, an American professional wrestler born in 1972. He has competed in various independent wrestling promotions and is known for his unique persona and ring attire, which often features cactus-inspired designs.
While the name Cactus is still relatively uncommon, it has gained a certain cultural significance for its connection to nature, resilience, and individuality. As a first name, it stands out as a unique and memorable choice, reflecting the growing trend of parents seeking names that are both meaningful and unconventional.
People
Cactus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Cactus as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Cactus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Cactus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Cactus going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Cactus a common name?
We classify Cactus as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Cactus most popular?
The single biggest year for Cactus was 2019, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Cactus is about 7 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Cactus in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Cactus a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Cactus in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Cactus still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Cactus in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Cactus can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Cactus?
Find out how many people have the name Cactus on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.