Declining since 1988, #2,354 for girls today.
Popularity of Roxana since 1882
Babies named Roxana per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 26 |
| 1890s | 17 |
| 1900s | 31 |
| 1910s | 67 |
| 1920s | 133 |
| 1930s | 185 |
| 1940s | 395 |
| 1950s | 588 |
| 1960s | 690 |
| 1970s | 944 |
| 1980s | 2,272 |
| 1990s | 2,517 |
| 2000s | 2,304 |
| 2010s | 1,270 |
| 2020s | 555 |
Meaning & origin
Roxana has a long and storied history, with its first recorded US usage dating to 1882. Its rarity makes it distinctive: as of 2025, the name ranked 2,354th nationally, with only 1 in roughly 20,874 girls receiving the name. The name reached its peak popularity in 1987, but since 1988 its use has gradually declined. Sporadic interest in the name has been most notable in Colorado, California, and Texas, among US states. Rooted in ancient Persian origins and linked through Alexander the Great's wife, Roxana offers a classical feel without the burden of overuse, appealing to parents seeking a name with historical depth and a melodic sound.
Roxana is the Latinized form of the Greek Ῥωξάνη (Rhoxane), derived from the Persian name Roshanak, meaning 'dawn' or 'little star'. It was the name of the wife of Alexander the Great, daughter of a Bactrian nobleman. In English, it has been used since the 17th century, notably as the title character in Daniel Defoe's 1724 novel 'Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress', though the novel connection is debated among historians.
Where Roxana is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Roxana” around the world
Where Roxana lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Roxie, Roxy, Rox
Sibling names for Roxana
Names that share Roxana's style, for a brother or sister.
