Names That Mean Desert

A beautiful and evocative place-name that deserves wider use, Sahara brings to mind deserts and heat. Derived from Arabic, it is the name of the world's largest hot desert, located across the North of Africa. Similar in appearance to Sarah and Zahra and similar in feel to Savannah, it was selected by reality TV star Georgia Harrison for her daughter Sahara Jean Stacey in 2025.

Sounds incomplete, like a pet form of Miranda.

Oasis is an ultra-rare word name that has only ever been used for a handful of babies born in the US. Its appeal is undeniable, though. An oasis can be a place of refuge, or a place of beauty, in an otherwise harsh environment. It also shares sounds with other popular and trendy names—think Owen, combined with Silas, with a touch of Ocean.

A distinctive word name with musical ties, Oasis was given to 20 girls in 2024, compared with 14 in 2023.