Desert Names

Cayenne
- Origin:
  Word name, English from Tupi
- Meaning:
  "pepper"
- Description:
  Spicy.
Prairie
- Origin:
  Nature name
- Description:
  An evocative, windswept choice that is part of the third generation of western-influenced names, picking up where first Jesse and then Dakota left off, though with a slight feminine edge.

Granite
- Origin:
  Nature name
- Description:
  There's a whole quarry of rocky names parents are now considering: Slate, Flint, etc. , but this one is particularly hard-edged and problematic.
Nevada
- Origin:
  Spanish place-name
- Meaning:
  "covered in snow"
- Description:
  Western place-name that feels equally appropriate for both genders. Note: Natives say rhyme that second syllable with had, so it's not nehv-AH-da.
Mojave
- Origin:
  Native American tribal and place-name
- Description:
  Resonant place-name of the beautiful Southern California desert.

Reno
- Origin:
  Place-name
- Description:
  Has a lively and swaggering sound, and also some unfortunate associations with Reno, city of gambling and failed marriages.
Coal
- Origin:
  Word name
- Description:
  This recently coined respelling of Cole darkens its image.
Copper
- Origin:
  Word name
- Description:
  It's a beautiful burnished metal -- but also slang for policeman.

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