Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Roxanne
GirlPersian· “bright, shining”
- Meaning
- bright, shining
- Origin
- Persian
- Pronunciation
- rahk-SAN
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,315
- US babies 2025
- 170
- Best rank
- #158 (1954)
- Peak year
- 1954
Meaning and origin of Roxanne
Roxanne is a Persian name that is usually said to mean “bright, shining”.
Roxanne comes from the Persian Roxana, usually explained as "bright" or "shining." Roxana was the wife of Alexander the Great, which gave the name an ancient royal history. In literature, Roxane is the heroine of Edmond Rostand's play Cyrano de Bergerac, first performed in 1897. The name later gained a rock edge from the song Roxanne by The Police. Roxanne has a bold, glamorous sound, and Roxy and Roxie are lively nicknames.
Popularity over time
Roxanne first appears in US Social Security records in 1906. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 66 different years, starting in 1936. Its best national rank was #158 in 1954, the same year it reached its highest count of 2,232 babies. In 2025, 170 babies were named Roxanne, and it ranked #1,315 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #4,326 in 1920, #297 in 1950, #285 in 1980, #951 in 2000, #1,053 in 2010, and #1,315 in 2025. Of the 59,532 US girls named Roxanne since records began, 28% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 13,577 babies. Since 2010, 3,248 more have been named Roxanne.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Marla, Luann, Kathie, Gwendolyn, and Yvonne.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Roxanne ranked highest in Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | #663 | 5 |
| Pennsylvania | #756 | 13 |
| Washington | #799 | 8 |
| Wisconsin | #903 | 5 |
| Tennessee | #967 | 7 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Roxanne is usually pronounced rahk-SAN, with two syllables. It has seven letters, starts with R and ends in “-ne”.
Middle names for Roxanne
A few middle names that flow with Roxanne: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Roxanne
Similar names
Jane Girl
JAYN
“God is gracious” · English
#221
Anne Girl
AN
“grace, favor” · French
#619
Elaine Girl
ih-LAYN
“uncertain; Old French form of Helen” · French
#305
Yasmine Girl
YAZ-mihn
“jasmine flower” · Persian
#1,185
Jasmine Girl
JAZ-min
“jasmine flower” · Persian
#206
Josephine Girl
JOH-suh-feen
“he will add” · French
#53
Jazmine Girl
JAZ-min
“jasmine flower” · Persian
#993
Irene Girl
eye-REEN
“peace” · Greek
#651
Christine Girl
krihs-TEEN
“follower of Christ” · French
#1,274
Marlene Girl
mahr-LEEN
“contraction of Maria Magdalene” · German
#1,268
Arlene Girl
ahr-LEEN
“modern coinage; origin uncertain” · English
#1,632
Nadine Girl
nay-DEEN
“hope” · French
#1,627
Lists that include Roxanne
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Roxanne mean?
Roxanne is a Persian name that is usually said to mean “bright, shining”.
What is the origin of the name Roxanne?
Roxanne has Persian roots. Roxanne comes from the Persian Roxana, usually explained as "bright" or "shining." Roxana was the wife of Alexander the Great, which gave the name an ancient royal history.
Is Roxanne a popular name?
Not especially. Roxanne ranked #1,315 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Roxanne a boy or girl name?
Roxanne is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Roxanne?
Roxanne is usually pronounced rahk-SAN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings