Traditional names for the plant include "ska Pastora" (Shepherdess' herb), "ska Marםa Pastora" (Mary Shepherdess' herb), "hojas de la Pastora" (leaves of the Shepherdess), "hojas de Marםa Pastora" (leaves of Mary Shepherdess), "hierba Marםa" (Mary's herb), "yerba de Marםa" (herb of Mary), and "la hembra" (the female). R. Gordon Wasson proposed that S. divinorum might represent the ancient Aztec herb pipiltzintzintli ("most noble little prince"). There are some modern psychonauts who call it "mint" or "sadi" (short for Salvia divinorum). However, most commonly it is simply referred to by its genus name, "Salvia".

NOTE: Ska may be translated as either "the leaves" or the "herb" - ska (Maria) Pastora = the leaves (or herb) of (Mary) the Shepherdess. Hierba and yerba are variants of the same word.