'aporocactus' originates from New Latin (botanical Latin), formed from Ancient Greek elements plus the Latinized 'cactus'; specifically from Greek roots used in taxonomic formation and 'cactus' (from Greek 'kaktos') where 'cactus' meant 'a spiny plant' (used in Latin as the generic element).

'aporocactus' was coined as a genus name in botanical Latin (modern taxonomic usage) in the 19th century and has been used in scientific literature to denote this group of trailing cacti; it remained a fixed scientific name through subsequent taxonomic treatments.

Initially established as a formal botanical genus name, its meaning has remained essentially the same: the scientific name for this particular group of trailing/hanging cacti used in horticulture and botany.