75 Desert Names Inspired by the Desert Landscape 

Finding a name inspired by the desert for your little one can be a creative way to come up with a unique and meaningful name.

Nature-inspired names like desert names are gaining popularity in recent years. The wide-open spaces of the desert, paired with its distinct arid weather, give way to inspiration for many brilliant names. The desert is also home to a variety of fauna and flora for ideas! 

Did you know that not all deserts are hot? Antarctica is actually considered a cold desert! Ed Sheeran, an English musician, actually named his daughter Lyra Antarctica in 2020. A desert is defined as a place that receives less than ten inches of precipitation (rain) a year, whether that place is hot or cold.  

Below you’ll find desert names for boys and girls as well as sand and desert-themed names inspired by the plant life, desert towns, and even the feelings the deserts bring out in us!

Desert Names for Girls

Discover the beauty and strength in nature with these enchanting desert-inspired names for girls. From names evoking sand dunes to those reflecting the serenity of desert sunsets, each name captures a sense of resilience and grace ideal for any little girl.

1. Amaterasu - Japanese name, goddess of the sun.
2. Angola - Located on the west coast of South Africa, this place is another known for their deserts.
3. Ari - Hebrew name, means lion, lions are one of the animals in the Sahara Desert.
4. Arizona - From the state in North America, an obvious yet fitting name for your baby girl.
5. Asia - Greek, means "Sunrise."
6. Atacama - Named after the driest desert in the world from Chile.
7. Bast - An Egyptian goddess, daughter of the sun god and associated with protection and cats.
8. Boa - After a desert rosy boa snake that lives in the Mojave Desert.
9. Bosa - Old English name meaning "clearing or glade."
10. Cleopatra - Greek, can shorten to "Cleo", like the Egyptian Queen!
11. Daenerys - Popularized by Game of Thrones, "lady of light" or "lady of hope", the character spent plenty of time crossing deserts.
12. Dykuma - Lithuanian name for "desert."
13. Gila - After the river that runs through New Mexico and Arizona.
14. Hesperia - Greek, "land of the setting sun."
15. Johona - Navajo name meaning "the sun."
16. Kalahari - This is the name of a desert in Africa meaning "the great thirst."
17. Kuuma - Finnish for "hot."
18. Leona - Latin, "lion."
19. Magdalena - Part of the Sonoran Desert.
20. Namibia - For the Namib Desert, the oldest in the world.
21. Nevada - Another state in North America where desert covers land.
22. Phaedra - Greek, meaning "bright", like the sun in the desert.
23. Pyla - After the largest sand dune in Europe.
24. Sahara - The largest hot desert in the world, found in North Africa's Morocco.
25. Sandy/Sandra - Another obvious choice for desert lovers.
26. Savannah - Spanish, means "treeless plain" but definitely makes us think of the South.
27. Seri - Named after an indigenous tribe that's associated with Sonoran Desert.
28. Sinai - Hebrew, "from the clay desert."
29. Sonora - A Mexican state bordered by Chihuahua Desert means "pleasant sounding."
30. Sunny/Sunshine - Obvious choice, this is a beautiful name for a baby girl that lights up your life.
31. Tomesha - Native American name, means "ground afire."

Desert Names for Boys

Embrace the rugged charm and adventurous spirit with these distinctive desert-inspired names for boys. Each name carries a sense of vast landscapes, warmth, and mystery, perfect for parents seeking a unique and evocative moniker for their son.

32. Addax - After the white antelope that runs the desert in Africa.
33. Altan - Mongolian name meaning "golden." just like that desert sun!
34. Audun - Means "deserted."
35. Auraq - Also from Pakistan meaning "sand or dust colored."
36. Aster - After the Mojave aster plant.
37. Barren - Speaks to the emptiness of the desert.
38. Basin - After the Great Basin National Park in the desert of Nevada.
39. Brick - You can't make bricks without sand!.
40. Clay - Can have a lot of different meanings, but for this piece, we'll equate it with the sands covering the desert!.
41. Darwin - Only the strongest survive the desert!
42. Edan - Hebrew, means "fire."
43. Erden - Also from Mongolia meaning "treasure."
44. Gobi - Indian name meaning "happy."
45. Grannus - The Celtic god of fire and sun, great for a strong baby boy.
46. Hopper - Named after the locusts that populate the desert world.
47. Jack - After the jackrabbits that run around in the deserts.
48. Javier - Spanish, meaning "bright."
49. Joshua - This name can be common, but it might surprise you to find out that the Joshua Tree National Park is a place you can go to visit both the Mojave and Colorado deserts at once!.
50. Kahli - From the biggest desert of the Arabian Peninsula, this means "eternal."
51. Khufu - After the great Egyptian pharaoh.
52. Lawrence - Inspired by Lawrence of Arabia. A great choice for boys!.
53. Marudeva - Hindi, "lord of the desert."
54. Molopo - Named after the river running through the Kalahari Desert.
55. Moreno - Spanish name, can be shortened to "Reno." for the city in Nevada or means "brown haired."
56. Nero - Latin, "powerful".
57. Ordos - A desert in China.
58. Oryx - A species of gazelle that lives in some deserts.
59. Rayan - From Pakistan meaning "brilliant"; "bright, and radiant."
60. Rocky - Most desert lands are rock.
61. Saguaro - When you think of a cactus, the saguaro cactus is the common one to come to mind. It would make for a unique baby boy name!
62. Soloman - "Man of peace."
63. Thar - After the Thar Desert in Pakistan, "ice."
64. Tucson - A state in Arizona, a desert state.
65. Yemen/Yamin - A country in south Saudi Arabia, this comes from the Arabic word for "South." which is often associated with heat.

Gender-Neutral Names That Mean Desert

Explore the allure of gender-neutral names inspired by the desert landscape. These names carry a sense of tranquility, independence, and natural beauty, making them a perfect choice for those seeking a name that transcends traditional gender norms while reflecting the captivating essence of the desert.

66. Acacia - Greek, “thorny tree.”
67. Arid - Describes the dry air of the desert.
68. Jordan - A river that runs through the desert-like plains of Israel.
69. Phoenix - After the mythical bird and means “deep red."
70. Ryn - Welsh name, “ruler”, like the many ancient rulers of the deserts.
71. Sage - After the common desert sage that grows wild despite the environment.
72. Sphinx - Like the great sphinx found in the deserts of Egypt!
73. Tequila - The name may be very different, but if you’re a fan of the stuff, it’s made from the agave plant that grows in the desert!
74. Thorn - For obvious reasons, this an ode to those prickly cactus.
75. Zuni - Native American name, “beauty” after the Zuni tribe in New Mexico.

Why Choose a Desert Name for Your Baby? 

Whether you’re looking for a desert name to remind you of your favorite trail, are in love with succulents, or just want something different for your little one, we’ve compiled a list of the best baby names for girls and boys inspired by the desert to help! 

“I have always loved the desert. One sits down on a desert sand dune, sees nothing, hears nothing. Yet through the silence something throbs, and gleams...” 

― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince^[1]

For more baby name inspiration check out these popular baby name lists:

• 75 Earthy Boy Names for Your Little One
• Top 1,000 Most Popular Baby Girl Names in the U.S
• Top 1,000 Most Popular Baby Boy Names in the U.S

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