Roxana is a feminine given name of Persian origin. It means "dawn" or "light". The name comes from the ancient Persian word "raxsat", which means dawn. Roxana was also the name of a noblewoman in Central Asia who married Alexander the Great and bore him a son named Hercules.
The name Roxana has been used for centuries, but it gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the Victorian era when it was used by several notable figures such as writer Henry James' sister, Alice James, who went by the nickname "Roxy". The name has also been featured in literature and popular culture, most notably in the play "The Bounty" by Peter Barnes and the novel "Captain Blood" by Rafael Sabatini.
Today, Roxana remains a unique and elegant name choice for parents looking for something different but still classic. Its meaning of dawn or light makes it a fitting name for a child who brings brightness into your life. Despite its Persian origins, Roxana has been adopted by many cultures around the world as a beautiful and meaningful name option.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Roxana experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over time. The earliest recorded year with more than one birth was 1882, with five births. This number fluctuated between five and eleven births per year until 1918, when it jumped to thirteen births.
From 1919 onwards, there was a marked increase in the number of babies named Roxana born each year. The popularity peaked in 1948 with sixty-one births, followed by another peak in 1956 with eighty-two births. This trend continued until 1970 when it reached eighty-six births.
However, from 1971 onwards, there was a steady decline in the number of babies named Roxana. Despite reaching a high of 315 births in 1991, this number steadily decreased to 88 births in 2023. This indicates that the name Roxana has become less popular over time, with fewer parents choosing it for their newborn daughters.