Home › Baby Names Directory › Roxanna
Roxanna
Roxanna Pronunciation
Roxanna is pronounced rok-SAN-ə /rɑkˈsæn.ə/High
Meaning: Bright, shining, dawn; Latinate elaboration of Roxana, from Persian RoshanakHigh
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
History & Origin
Roxanna elaborates Roxana, the Greek rendering of Persian Roshanak, 'bright, luminous, little star of dawn'. The name entered Western memory with Alexander the Great's wife and resurfaced in literature for centuries — Defoe's scandalous Roxana (1724), the dazzling Roxane of Cyrano de Bergerac, and eventually The Police's inescapable 'Roxanne'.
American parents used Roxanna steadily through the nineteenth century — it has a covered-wagon vintage charm — before Roxanne became the standard modern form. Today Roxanna is rare, with Roxie standing by as its ready-made nickname.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- Famous bearers coming soon.
If you like Roxanna…
Browse the whole category: All Persian names → · All Greek names → · All origins →
Frequently Asked
How do you pronounce Roxanna?
Roxanna is pronounced rok-SAN-ə (/rɑkˈsæn.ə/). Press play above to hear Roxanna said aloud.
How do you say Roxanna?
Roxanna is said rok-SAN-ə (/rɑkˈsæn.ə/). Press play above to hear Roxanna said aloud.
What does the name Roxanna mean?
Roxanna comes from Persian Roshanak, via Greek Roxana, and means 'bright', 'shining', or 'dawn'.
Is Roxanna a boy or girl name?
Roxanna is a girl's name.
How popular is Roxanna?
Roxanna is a rare name in the U.S. today, a vintage elaboration of the better-known Roxanne.