Kalmar "Gila" tana nufin kogin Gila, wanda ke ratsa kudu maso yammacin Amurka, yayin da "Desert" ke nufin busasshiyar ƙasa, wadda ba ta cika samun hazo ba. Don haka kalmar “Hamadar Gila” gabaɗaya tana nufin yankin hamada da ke kewaye da rafin Gila a kudu maso yammacin Amurka. Ana siffanta shi da yanayin yanayi mara kyau, ciyayi marasa ciyayi, da siffofi na musamman na yanayin ƙasa.
