```python
def oxford_join(names: list) -> str:
    """
    Join a list of names into one phrase. Two names are joined by the word and;
    three or more take a comma between every pair but the last, which takes the word and.

    :param names: List of names to join
    :return: Joined names as a single string
    """
    if not names:
        return ""

    if len(names) == 1:
        return names[0]

    if len(names) == 2:
        return " and ".join(names)

    return "; ".join([", ".join(names[:-1]) + " and " + names[-1]])
```