a spiky succulent grows in a light blue pot with a smiley face painted on it
(Image credit: Elena Esich)

It can be fun to give our favorite plants nicknames. Besides, it's human nature to name those things in our lives which have significance. It helps us create order and differentiate between similar items. So, if you're looking for catchy monikers for your favorite leafy friends, check out these humorous and cute names for plants. 

Tips for Naming Plants

When choosing a name for your plant, the first rule of thumb is to make it easy to remember. For instance, you could simply call your potted friend “Ms. Plant” or “Professor Plant.” Fern, Jade, Lily, or Olive are obvious choices for those species. Other easy-to-remember plant names include:

Fun Plant Names

If you'd like to have a little more fun naming your plants, try nicknames which illustrate your sense of humor. You could name your new plant after the kid who sold it to you at the big box store. Or perhaps you'd like to name your Mother-in-Law plant after your real mother-in-law. Joke plant names are also quite popular. Here are a few ideas for punny plant names and yes, please excuse the pun.

  • Baby Bloomer (Small flowering houseplant)
  • Biscuit (Hibiscus)
  • Burnie (Aloe vera)
  • Dill Pickle (Dill herb)
  • Fig Newton (Fig tree)
  • Justin Shade (Favorite tree for taking refuge from the sun)
  • Spot (Polka dot plant)

Other good plant names are takeoffs of literary and movie characters or famous people. You could name your rubber plant “Stretch Armstrong” or perhaps you'd like to call your spider plant “Charlotte” in honor of every child's favorite barnyard arachnid. Try on these parody plant names derived from those celebs and characters we love the most:

  • Britney Spearsmint
  • Christofern Robin
  • Count Plantula
  • Courteney Coxcomb
  • Dick Van Spike
  • Diana Moss
  • Elvis Parsley
  • Fernie Mac
  • Holly Parton
  • Jennifern Aniston
  • Lisa Could-Grow
  • Morgan Treeman
  • Spruce Springsteen
  • Vincent Van Grow

You may even find a few of your favorite celebs have plant-like names which need no tweaking. They work fine the way they are:

  • Annie Potts
  • Axl Rose
  • Heather Locklear
  • Lily Tomlin
  • Orlando Bloom 
  • Robert Plant

Whatever cool plant names you choose for your leafy friends, make it fun. After all, your plants will love you no matter what you call them.

Laura Miller
Writer

Laura Miller has been gardening all her life. Holding a degree in Biology, Nutrition, and Agriculture, Laura's area of expertise is vegetables, herbs, and all things edible. She lives in Ohio.