Home › Baby Names Directory › Roxanne
Roxanne
Pronounced rok-SAN /rɒkˈsæn/Low
Meaning: Bright, dawn, little starLow
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
The name derives from the Old Persian Roshanak, meaning bright or little star. It entered the Greek world through Roxane, the Bactrian wife of Alexander the Great in the 4th century BCE. The Latin form Roxane was used in early modern Europe, and Roxanne became the standard English form.
Roxanne has had notable peaks in English-speaking countries. The 1979 Police song Roxanne renewed widespread interest in the name. The character Roxane in Edmond Rostand's 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac also helped cement its romantic image.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- ★Roxana of Bactria (340-310 BCE)Bactrian princess and wife of Alexander the Great, mother of Alexander IV. Roxana/Roxane is the historical form of the name.
- ★Roxanne Quimby (b. 1950)American businesswoman who co-founded the personal-care company Burt's Bees and later funded major land conservation in Maine.
If you like Roxanne…
Explore names like Roxanne
Frequently Asked
What does Roxanne mean?
Roxanne comes from the Persian Roshanak, meaning bright, little star, or dawn.
Who was the famous historical Roxanne?
Roxane was the Bactrian princess who married Alexander the Great in 327 BCE, becoming his first wife.
How do you pronounce Roxanne?
Roxanne is pronounced rok-SAN, with stress on the second syllable.
What are nicknames for Roxanne?
Popular nicknames for Roxanne are Roxy and Rox.