69 Delightful Desert Names For Babies And Pets

Aashita Dhingra
Feb 16, 2024 By Aashita Dhingra
Originally Published on Apr 21, 2022
Edited by Lara Simpson
Fact-checked by Dimple Panchal
Big dunes of sand and plains in desert
Age: 0-99
Read time: 7.9 Min

There are 23 significant deserts in the world that cover a large area, and these deserts may be classified as cold, arid, and sunny regions.

Some of the most extensive deserts may be found in many regions of Egypt, Mexico, Pakistan, Mongolia, northern Chile, and western China. Other prominent desert regions of the world are Arabia, South America, Western Australia, North America, and Africa.

Some popular ones are the Sahara Desert, Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert, Gobi Desert, Thar Desert, Atacama Desert, Kalahari Desert, and Antarctica (the coldest desert in the world). A desert is a rocky, sandy, arid, and barren land with no significant plantation and animals.

Looking for some cool names that mean desert? Which desert names can be used for animals? Read on for some interesting desert names for babies and pets.

Names Meaning Desert

In different languages, various names mean desert. Some of the desert shrubs' names and desert flowers' names are mentioned below:

Aran (Kurdish and Hebrew origin) means ‘desert’ or ‘wilderness.’ It is a common name for boys.

Arava (Hebrew origin) means ‘desert’ or ‘willow tree.’ It is a girl’s name and is relatively uncommon.

Aurgelmir (Norse origin) means ‘gravel,’ ‘sand,’ or ‘clay.’ It also has a variation- Ymir that is much more popular. It is a very rare and unique boy’s name.

Dykuma (Lithuanian origin) means ‘desert.’ It is a rare name for boys.

Eremita (Spanish origin) means desert. It is a girl’s name and is more popular in Italy.

Sahra (Arabic origin) means ‘desert.’ It is not a very popular name for girls.

Sahroboy (Uzbek origin) means ‘desert.’ It is derived from the word 'sahro.' It is not a very common boy’s name.

Sharen (English origin) means ‘desert plain.’ It is an uncommon name for girls.

Sharina (English origin) means ’desert plain.’ It is a common name for girls.

Sinai (Hebrew origin) means ‘clay desert.’ It is quite a common name for girls.

Desert Town Names

Some of the popular desert town names are Reno, Hesperia, Barstow, Virginia, Arizona, Africa, Lancaster, Nevada, and others. A few of these are listed below with their origin and meaning.

Adelanto (Spanish origin) means ‘advancement.’ It is a unique and rare name for boys.

Barstow (Old English origin) means ‘a place with berries.’ It is a common surname but sometimes used as a boy’s name.

Lancaster (Old English origin) means ‘Roman fort’ or ‘walled city.’ It is a popular surname.

Marfa ( Aramaic origin) means ‘lady of the house.’ It is a unique and popular name for girls.

Moab (Biblical origin) means ‘of his father.’ It is a unique name for boys.

Nevada (Spanish origin) means ‘snow-covered’ or ‘snowy.’ It is a unique name for boys.

Taos (Gothic and Native American origin) means ‘place of red willows.’ It is a unique and popular boy’s name.

Tubac (Tohono O’odham origin) means ‘place of dark water.’ It is derived from the word 'Cuwak.' It is not a very common name.

Virginia (Latin origin) means ‘virgin.’ It is a popular name for girls.

Winslow (Old English origin) means ‘friend’s hill.’ It is a popular gender-neutral name.

Yakima (Native American and Arabic origin) means ‘runaway.’ It is a common surname.

Egypt Desert Names

There are three major deserts in Egypt: the eastern desert, the western desert, and the Sinai Desert. Few other Egypt desert names are given below. 

Bahariya (Hindi origin) refers to a Jain community. It is a common surname.

Libya (Egyptian and Arabic origin) means ‘heat of the sea.’ Libya is a popular name for girls.

Nitrian (Greek origin) was inspired by the desert area in Egypt. It is a unique gender-neutral name.

Nubian (English origin) means ‘gold.’ It is a fairly common name for girls.

Qattara (Egyptian origin) refers to a desert basin in the Libyan Desert. It is a rare and unique name.

Sahara (Arabic origin) means ‘desert.’ It is not a very common name for girls. The Sahara desert is the largest desert in the world.

Sinai (Arabic and Hebrew origin) means ‘a bush’. It is a common surname and is sometimes used as a boy’s name.

Wadi El Natrun (Arabic origin) means ‘measure of the hearts.’ It is a unique and rare name.

Barrel Cactus in southern desert

Desert Names For Pets

You can name your pets after deserts or sand dunes. Some popular desert names are the Sahara Desert, Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert, Gobi Desert, Thar Desert, Atacama Desert, Kalahari Desert, Antarctica, and others. You can also name your pets after the plants and wildlife of deserts: Saguaro cactus, Ficus, Sage, wildflowers, addax antelope, aster, snakes, desert bloom, and others.

Angola (Greek origin) means ‘messenger angel.’ It is not a very common name for girls.

Antarctica (Greek origin) means ‘of the bear’ or ‘opposite to the north.’ It is derived from the word antarktikos. It is quite a popular name for girls.

Arizona (Basque origin) means ‘good oak.’ It is a popular gender-neutral name.

Atacama (Quechua origin) refers to a South African tribe. It is not a very popular name.

Bardenas (Unknown origin) was inspired by a desert in Navarre in Spain. It is a unique name for girls.

Bromo (Japanese origin) means ‘Hindu god of creation.’ It is not a popular name for boys.

Cactus (Ancient Greek origin) means ‘a spiny-thorny succulent plant.’ It is derived from the Latin word cardoon and the Greek word 'Kaktos.' Cactus is quite a common name for pets.

Ferio (Proto-Indo-European origin) means ‘to pierce’ or ‘strike.’ It is a unique and rare name for boys.

Gibson (Germanic origin) means ‘noble youth’ or ‘bright.’ It is a common surname.

Gila (Ancient Greek origin) means ‘insane.’ Gila is also a river basin in Arizona and New Mexico.

Gobi (Tamil origin) means ‘happy.’ It is not a very common name for boys. It has the world’s largest sand dune.

Guban (African origin) means ‘burnt.’ It is quite a common name for boys.

Joshua (Hebrew origin) means ‘God is deliverance.’ It is a very popular name for boys. Joshua has a shortened variation: Josh.

Kalahari (Tswana origin) means ‘great thirst’ or ‘waterless place.’ It is derived from the word kgala. It is an uncommon name for girls.

Karakum (Turkish origin) means ‘black sand.’ It is not a very popular baby name.

Karoo (Khoisan origin) means ‘land of thirst.’ It is a unique and uncommon name.

Ladakh (Persian origin) means the land of high passes. It is an uncommon name for boys.

Monte (Italian, Spanish, Jewish, and Portuguese origin) means ‘mountain belonging to a ruler’ or ‘man with power.’ It is a popular name for boys.

Namib (Khoekhoegowab origin) means ‘a vast place’. It is not a very common boy’s name.

Namibia (Nama origin) means ‘vast place.’ It is not a very common girl’s name.

Ogaden (Unknown origin) means ‘clever’ or ‘quick-witted.’ It is an uncommon name for boys.

Oltenia (Unknown origin) was inspired by a region in Romania. It is an uncommon name for girls.

Ordos (Mongolian origin) means ‘palaces.’ It is an uncommon name for boys.

Patagonian (Spanish origin) means ‘a wooden shoe’ or ‘clog.’ It is derived from the word pentagons. It is not a very popular name.

Phoenix (Greek origin) means ‘purple-red.’ It has gained popularity recently.

Pyla (American origin) means ‘beautiful.’ It is a unique but uncommon name for girls.

Rayan (Arabic origin) means ‘watered,’ ‘luxuriant,’ ‘plentiful,’ or ‘heaven’s flower.’ It is a popular name for boys.

Ryn (Welsh origin) means ‘ruler.’ It is a popular gender-neutral name.

Sechura (Unknown origin) was inspired by a city in Peru. It is a unique and rare name for girls.

Seri (Arabic and Georgian origin) means ‘brilliant,’ ‘majestic,’ or ‘exalted.’ It is a unique and popular name for girls.

Simpson (Scottish and Northern English origin) means ‘obedience’ or ‘enclosure.’ It is a popular surname and is sometimes used as a boy’s name.

Tanami (Australian origin) means ‘immortal’ or ‘never dies.’ It is a unique name for girls.

Thar (Arabic origin) means ‘ice.’ It is not a very common boy’s name. It is a sandy and rocky desert.

Thompson (Scottish origin) means ‘son of Thomas.’ It is a common boy’s name and surname.

Victoria (Latin origin) means ‘victory.’ It is a very popular name for girls.

Wahiba (Arabic origin) means ‘giver’ or ‘donor.’ It is a common name for girls.

California Desert Names

Many desert towns are in different countries (Egypt, Mexico, Pakistan, Mongolia, northern Chile, western China, Arabia, South America, South Asia, and Western Australia), but California deserts are some of the most majestic. Read on for desert names from the land of the setting sun:

Acacia (Greek origin) means thorny. It is a unique name for girls.

Antelope (Old French and Greek origin) refers to a ruminant like a deer. It is not a very common name for girls.

Chihuahuan (Spanish origin) was inspired by the smallest breed of dog. It is not a common name.

Coachella (Spanish origin) means ‘little shell.’ It is a unique and rare name for girls.

Colorado (Spanish origin) means ‘colored red.’ It is a popular gender-neutral name.

Eureka (Ancient Greek origin) means ‘I have found it.’ It is a common girl’s name.

Fremont (Germanic origin) means ‘peace protection’ or ‘noble protector.’ It is a common boy’s name.

Lucerne (Latin origin) means ‘circle of light.’ It is a unique name for girls.

Mojave (Indian origin) means ‘beside the water’ or ‘people who live along the water.’ It is quite a common name for boys.

Sonoran (Spanish origin) means ‘pleasant-sounding.’ It is not a very popular name for girls.

Victor (Latin origin) means ‘conqueror’ or ‘to win.’ It is a very popular name for boys.

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Written by Aashita Dhingra

Bachelors in Business Administration

Aashita Dhingra picture

Aashita DhingraBachelors in Business Administration

Based in Lucknow, India, Aashita is a skilled content creator with experience crafting study guides for high school-aged kids. Her education includes a degree in Business Administration from St. Mary's Convent Inter College, which she leverages to bring a unique perspective to her work. Aashita's passion for writing and education is evident in her ability to craft engaging content.

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