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Roxanne

Girl name · 316 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Roxanne: 316 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 32 births in 1989.

Roxanne comes from the Greek Rhoxane, which itself derives from the Bactrian or Old Persian name Roshanak, meaning "bright" or "dawn." The most famous historical bearer was Roxanne of Bactria, the formidable wife of Alexander the Great who helped secure his empire’s eastern territories. In modern times, Roxanne Shanté broke ground as a pioneering female rapper in the 1980s, while the name was immortalised in The Police’s 1978 hit “Roxanne.” The variant Roxana appears throughout literature, most notably as the object of Cyrano de Bergerac’s unrequited love. Though not directly linked to any Scottish place, the name’s luminous meaning makes it a radiant choice that has seen steady,