Roxanne is a female given name of Persian origin and means "dawn" or "light". It has been used throughout history in various forms such as Rhodaxane, Roxana, and Roxane.
The name Roxanne gained popularity in the West during the Victorian era when it was introduced through Alexander Pushkin's poem "Eugene Onegin." In this work, one of the main characters is named Tatyana, who falls in love with Eugene Onegin. Tatyana has a cousin named Roxane, which contributed to the name's increasing familiarity among English-speaking audiences.
In addition to literature, the name Roxanne also appeared in other forms of art and culture throughout history. For example, it was used as a character name in the play "Cyrano de Bergerac" by Edmond Rostand, where Roxane is Cyrano's love interest. More recently, the song "Roxanne" by The Police brought further attention to this unique name.
Overall, Roxanne is an elegant and distinctive name with deep roots in history and culture. Its meaning of "dawn" or "light" suggests a bright and radiant personality, making it an attractive choice for parents looking for a special name for their daughter.
Roxanne experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century. It peaked in the mid-1950s with over 2,000 births per year and declined thereafter, reaching an all-time low of 168 births in both 2022 and 2023. The total number of births with the name Roxanne over this period is 59,166.