Vegetable Name Generator

Real, heirloom and invented vegetable names

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Generate vegetable names from a list of real vegetables from around the world such as kohlrabi, chayote and romanesco, named varieties such as Lacinato Kale and Dragon Tongue Bean, and invented vegetables such as Emberleek for stories, games and picture books.

About vegetable names

Vegetable names reach English from every direction. Some are loanwords that traveled with the plant: daikon from Japanese, okra from West Africa, chayote and jicama from Nahuatl by way of Spanish. Some simply describe the thing (watermelon radish, yardlong bean, spaghetti squash). Some change at the border, which is why this list has eggplant, aubergine and brinjal, and both zucchini and courgette. "Vegetable" is a kitchen word rather than a botanical one, so tomatoes, peppers, squash and other savory fruits belong here too.

The 500 names fall into three groups. About 235 are plain names of real vegetables, from cabbage and carrot to oca, celtuce and huauzontle. About 180 are named varieties of the kind seed catalogs list: Brandywine Tomato, Chioggia Beet, Lacinato Kale, Glass Gem Corn. The remaining 85 are invented for fiction and games. Most of those are one-word compounds such as Emberleek, Frostkale and Thornchoke, and the rest wear an obviously fantastical word, as in Goblin Turnip or Wizard's Marrow.

Invented names are names only. They describe no real plant, so nothing here says what a made-up vegetable tastes like or whether anything like it could be eaten.

How to choose vegetable names

  • For a quiz or a lesson, stay with the plain real names and the named varieties. Fantasy compounds such as Moonroot and Cinderbeet are invented and do not belong on a worksheet.
  • For fiction, tie an invented vegetable to a familiar type. Riverleek, Cinderbeet and Bogradish tell a reader roughly what is on the plate without a paragraph of description.
  • Variety names make good character and pet names. Brandywine Tomato shortens to Brandywine, and Marmande, Cherry Belle and Buttercrunch sound like people before they sound like produce.
  • Naming a garden bed or a market sign? Use the regional name your readers know: rutabaga or swede, eggplant or aubergine, zucchini or courgette.
  • Before you treat any unfamiliar name as food, look it up in a reliable source. A name on a list is not advice about what is safe to eat.

Frequently asked questions

Are all of these real vegetables?

No. About 235 are real vegetables and about 180 are real named varieties, while 85 are invented for stories and games. The invented ones are one-word fantasy compounds such as Moonroot, Glassbean and Starchard, or names with a fantasy creature in them such as Troll Radish. Dragon Tongue Bean, Rattlesnake Bean and Elephant Garlic are real, despite the names.

Why are tomatoes and peppers on a vegetable list?

Botanically they are fruits, but cooks and grocers treat them as vegetables, and that is the sense used here. The same goes for squash, cucumber, eggplant and okra.

What is an heirloom variety name?

It is the name a particular strain of a vegetable is grown and passed on under, often for generations. Cherokee Purple Tomato, Dragon Tongue Bean, Early Jersey Wakefield and Musquée de Provence are examples from this list. The page lists names only and says nothing about where seed can be bought.

Can I use the invented vegetable names in my game or book?

Yes, they are meant for that. Names like Wyrmgourd, Saltstalk and Wizard's Marrow suit a fantasy market stall or a farming game. They are made up for this list, so do not present them as real plants or as something safe to eat.

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All 500 vegetable names

This is the complete list the generator above draws its random batches from, sorted A to Z and grouped by first letter.

Plain text, one name per line.

A: 21 names

  • Acorn Squash
  • Adirondack Blue
  • Agretti
  • Ailsa Craig
  • Ají Amarillo
  • Ají Dulce
  • All Blue Potato
  • Amaranth Greens
  • American Flag Leek
  • Amish Paste
  • Anaheim Pepper
  • Armenian Cucumber
  • Arracacha
  • Artichoke
  • Arugula
  • Ashcabbage
  • Asparagus
  • Atomic Red Carrot
  • Aubergine
  • Aunt Ruby's German Green
  • Autumn King

B: 52 names

  • Baby Corn
  • Bamboo Shoots
  • Banana Blossom
  • Banana Pepper
  • Basilisk Bean
  • Bean Sprouts
  • Beauregard
  • Beefsteak Tomato
  • Beet
  • Beet Greens
  • Beetroot
  • Belgian Endive
  • Bell Pepper
  • Bellroot
  • Bird's Eye Chili
  • Bishop's Crown
  • Bitter Melon
  • Bitterleaf
  • Black Beauty Eggplant
  • Black Beauty Zucchini
  • Black Krim
  • Black Radish
  • Black Seeded Simpson
  • Black Spanish Radish
  • Black-Eyed Pea
  • Bloomsdale Spinach
  • Blue Hubbard
  • Blue Lake Bean
  • Blue Solaise Leek
  • Bogradish
  • Bok Choy
  • Boniato
  • Borlotti
  • Boston Pickling
  • Bottle Gourd
  • Brambleroot
  • Brandywine Tomato
  • Bright Lights Chard
  • Brinebean
  • Brinjal
  • Broccoli
  • Broccoli Rabe
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Bull's Blood Beet
  • Bumbleroot
  • Burdock Root
  • Burgundy Okra
  • Burrowroot
  • Buttercrunch
  • Buttercup Squash
  • Butterhead Lettuce
  • Butternut Squash

C: 62 names

  • Cabbage
  • Calabacita
  • Calabaza
  • Calabrese Broccoli
  • California Wonder Pepper
  • Callaloo
  • Calypso Bean
  • Candy Roaster
  • Cannellini
  • Capsicum
  • Cardoon
  • Carrot
  • Cassava
  • Castelfranco
  • Cauliflower
  • Cavecress
  • Cavolo Nero
  • Celeriac
  • Celery
  • Celtuce
  • Chantenay Carrot
  • Chayote
  • Cherokee Purple Tomato
  • Cherry Belle
  • Cherry Tomato
  • Chesnok Red
  • Chicory
  • Chilacayote
  • Chiltepin
  • China Rose Radish
  • Chinese Yam

C, continued

  • Chioggia Beet
  • Choy Sum
  • Christmas Lima
  • Chrysanthemum Greens
  • Cime di Rapa
  • Cinderbeet
  • Cipollini Onion
  • Clemson Spineless
  • Cloudcabbage
  • Cluster Bean
  • Cocoyam
  • Collard Greens
  • Copperbean
  • Corno di Toro
  • Cosmic Purple Carrot
  • Costata Romanesco
  • Costoluto Genovese
  • Country Gentleman
  • Courgette
  • Covington
  • Cragroot
  • Crookneck Squash
  • Crosne
  • Crystal Apple Cucumber
  • Cubanelle
  • Cucamelon
  • Cucumber
  • Curly Kale
  • Curlybeet
  • Cyclops Rutabaga
  • Cylindra Beet

D: 13 names

  • Daikon
  • Dandelion Greens
  • Danish Ballhead
  • Danvers Carrot
  • Dasheen
  • Dawnpea
  • Deer Tongue Lettuce
  • Delicata
  • Detroit Dark Red
  • Dragon Tongue Bean
  • Driftgreens
  • Duskonion
  • Dwarf Blue Curled Kale

E: 12 names

  • Early Jersey Wakefield
  • Early White Vienna
  • Easter Egg Radish
  • Edamame
  • Eddoe
  • Eggplant
  • Egyptian Walking Onion
  • Elephant Garlic
  • Emberleek
  • Endive
  • English Cucumber
  • Escarole

F: 18 names

  • Fairy Leek
  • Fava Bean
  • Featherkale
  • Fenleek
  • Fennel
  • Fiddlehead Fern
  • Fish Pepper
  • Flageolet
  • Flintbean
  • Florence Fennel
  • Fordhook Giant
  • Forellenschluss
  • French Breakfast Radish
  • French Fingerling
  • French Grey Shallot
  • Fresno Chili
  • Frisée
  • Frostkale

G: 28 names

  • Gai Lan
  • Galeux d'Eysines
  • Garden Pea
  • Garlic
  • Garlic Scapes
  • Georgia Southern Collards
  • German Butterball
  • Gherkin
  • Giant Prague Celeriac
  • Giant Red Celery
  • Glass Gem Corn
  • Glassbean
  • Glimmersquash
  • Gloomturnip
  • Glowradish
  • Gnome Cabbage
  • Goblin Turnip
  • Gobo
  • Golden Ball Turnip
  • Golden Bantam
  • Golden Beet
  • Goldpod
  • Green Arrow Pea
  • Green Bean
  • Green Globe Artichoke
  • Green Striped Cushaw
  • Green Zebra Tomato
  • Griffin Gourd

H: 15 names

  • Habanero
  • Hakurei Turnip
  • Haricot Vert
  • Hearts of Palm
  • Hedgeleek
  • Hollow Crown Parsnip
  • Hollowbean
  • Honeytuber
  • Hopi Blue Corn
  • Horseradish
  • Huauzontle
  • Hubbard Squash
  • Hungarian Wax Pepper
  • Hushpod
  • Hyacinth Bean

I: 7 names

  • Iceberg Lettuce
  • Icebulb
  • Imperator Carrot
  • Imperial Star Artichoke
  • Inchelium Red
  • Ironstalk
  • Ivy Gourd

J: 11 names

  • Jacob's Cattle Bean
  • Jalapeño
  • January King
  • Japanese Eggplant
  • Jarrahdale
  • Jaune Flammé
  • Jersey Knight
  • Jerusalem Artichoke
  • Jicama
  • Jimmy Nardello
  • Jute Mallow

K: 13 names

  • Kabocha
  • Kale
  • Kangkong
  • Karela
  • Kennebec
  • Kentucky Wonder
  • King Edward
  • Kirby Cucumber
  • Knucklegourd
  • Kohlrabi
  • Komatsuna
  • Korean Radish
  • Kumara

L: 20 names

  • La Ratte
  • Lacinato Kale
  • Lady's Fingers
  • Lampbulb
  • Lanternsquash
  • Leek
  • Lemon Cucumber
  • Lettuce
  • Lima Bean
  • Lincoln Pea
  • Listada de Gandia
  • Little Finger Carrot
  • Little Fingers Eggplant
  • Little Gem
  • Little Marvel Pea
  • Lollo Rosso
  • Long Island Cheese
  • Lotus Root
  • Luffa
  • Lunar White Carrot

M: 30 names

  • Mâche
  • Malabar Spinach
  • Malanga
  • Mangelwurzel
  • Mangetout
  • Marconi Pepper
  • Marina di Chioggia
  • Maris Piper
  • Marketmore
  • Marmande
  • Marvel of Four Seasons
  • Mary Washington Asparagus
  • Mashua
  • Meadowpod
  • Mermaid's Kale
  • Mibuna
  • Mirepea
  • Mistcress
  • Miyashige Daikon
  • Mizuna
  • Molokhia
  • Mooli
  • Moonroot
  • Mortgage Lifter
  • Mosscabbage
  • Murasaki
  • Music Garlic
  • Musquée de Provence
  • Musselburgh Leek
  • Mustard Greens

N: 6 names

  • Nantes Carrot
  • Napa Cabbage
  • Nettlekale
  • New Zealand Spinach
  • Nightbeet
  • Nopales

O: 9 names

  • Oak Leaf Lettuce
  • Oaxacan Green Corn
  • Oca
  • Ogre Onion
  • Okra
  • Onion
  • Orach
  • Osaka Purple Mustard
  • Oxheart Carrot

P: 34 names

  • Padrón Pepper
  • Painted Mountain Corn
  • Pak Choi
  • Pan di Zucchero
  • Paris Market Carrot
  • Parris Island Cos
  • Parsley Root
  • Parsnip
  • Pattypan Squash
  • Pea Shoots
  • Pearl Onion
  • Perpetual Spinach
  • Persian Cucumber
  • Pigeon Pea
  • Pimiento
  • Ping Tung Long
  • Pink Banana Squash
  • Pink Fir Apple
  • Piquillo Pepper
  • Plum Tomato
  • Poblano
  • Pointed Cabbage
  • Pointed Gourd
  • Potato
  • Puddlecress
  • Pufftuber
  • Pumpkin
  • Puntarelle
  • Purple of Sicily
  • Purple Passion Asparagus
  • Purple Peruvian
  • Purple Top White Globe
  • Purple Vienna Kohlrabi
  • Purslane

Q: 1 name

  • Quillcabbage

R: 35 names

  • Radicchio
  • Radish
  • Rainbow Chard
  • Ramps
  • Rapini
  • Rat's Tail Radish
  • Rattlesnake Bean
  • Red Cabbage
  • Red Giant Mustard
  • Red Kuri
  • Red Onion
  • Red Russian Kale
  • Red Torpedo Onion
  • Red Wethersfield
  • Reefcabbage
  • Rhubarb
  • Ribboncress
  • Ridge Gourd
  • Riverleek
  • Romaine
  • Romanesco
  • Romano Bean
  • Romeritos
  • Ronde de Nice
  • Rosa Bianca
  • Rossa di Treviso
  • Rouge d'Hiver
  • Rouge Vif d'Etampes
  • Royal Burgundy Bean
  • Ruby Red Chard
  • Runner Bean
  • Russet Burbank
  • Russian Banana
  • Rustroot
  • Rutabaga

S: 52 names

  • Sakurajima Daikon
  • Salsify
  • Saltstalk
  • Samphire
  • San Marzano
  • Savoy Cabbage
  • Scallion
  • Scarlet Runner Bean
  • Scorzonera
  • Scotch Bonnet
  • Sea Kale
  • Seminole Pumpkin
  • Serrano Pepper
  • Shadowkale
  • Shallot
  • Shishito
  • Shoalpea
  • Shogoin Turnip
  • Siberian Kale
  • Silver Queen Corn
  • Silverbeet
  • Silverpod
  • Skirret
  • Skybean
  • Snake Gourd
  • Snow Pea
  • Snowball Cauliflower
  • Snowleek
  • Spaghetti Squash
  • Spanish Roja
  • Sparkpepper
  • Spinach
  • Spindleroot
  • Spring Onion
  • Squash Blossom
  • Star of David Okra
  • Starchard
  • Starpod
  • Stonebulb
  • Stormradish
  • Straight Eight
  • Stuttgarter
  • Sugar Ann
  • Sugar Beet
  • Sugar Snap Pea
  • Sugarstalk
  • Sunchard
  • Sunchoke
  • Swede
  • Sweet Corn
  • Sweet Potato
  • Swiss Chard

T: 23 names

  • Table Queen
  • Tall Telephone Pea
  • Tanglebean
  • Taro
  • Tatsoi
  • Tender and True
  • Tennis Ball Lettuce
  • Thai Eggplant
  • Thimblesquash
  • Thornchoke
  • Thundertuber
  • Tidecress
  • Tiger's Eye Bean
  • Tinda
  • Tomatillo
  • Tomato
  • Troll Radish
  • Tromboncino
  • Turban Squash
  • Turkish Orange Eggplant
  • Turnip
  • Turnip Greens
  • Twistroot

U: 3 names

  • Ube
  • Ulluco
  • Utah Tall Celery

V: 5 names

  • Verdolagas
  • Victoria Rhubarb
  • Violet de Provence
  • Viroflay Spinach
  • Vitelotte

W: 21 names

  • Walking Stick Kale
  • Walla Walla Onion
  • Waltham Butternut
  • Wasabi
  • Water Chestnut
  • Water Spinach
  • Watercress
  • Watermelon Radish
  • Wax Bean
  • Whispergreens
  • White Asparagus
  • White Icicle Radish
  • White Wonder Cucumber
  • Windcress
  • Winged Bean
  • Winter Melon
  • Witloof
  • Wizard's Marrow
  • Wobblegourd
  • Wyrmgourd
  • Wyvern's Beard Leek

Y: 7 names

  • Yacón
  • Yam
  • Yardlong Bean
  • Yellow Pear Tomato
  • Yellow Squash
  • Yeti Parsnip
  • Yuca

Z: 2 names

  • Zebrune Shallot
  • Zucchini