UK girl's name
Roxanne
A French feminine name of Persian origin meaning "dawn" or "bright".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Roxanne is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Roxanne popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1541, with 20 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 212 births.
This profile covers 2,275 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 9% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 2,586 living people in the UK are called Roxanne. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Roxanne ranked #1541 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 20 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 212 girls were registered as Roxanne.
- • Roxanne ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #451 in 2012.
- • About 2,586 living people in the UK are estimated to have Roxanne as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1541
2024
Births in 2024
20
Latest year
Peak year
2009
212 births
Estimated living
2,586
2026
Meaning
What does Roxanne mean?
The name Roxanne has its origins in the Persian language, deriving from the word "روشن" (Roshana), which means "bright" or "shining." It emerged during the late antiquity period, around the 3rd to 7th centuries AD, in the region that is now modern-day Iran.
The name gained popularity in Europe during the Middle Ages, particularly in France, where it was influenced by the French word "roux," meaning "red-haired." This association with red hair and brightness contributed to the name's enduring appeal.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Roxanne can be found in the 12th-century French epic poem "Roman de la Rose," where it is used as the name of a character. This literary work played a significant role in popularizing the name across Europe.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Roxanne. One of the earliest examples is Roxanne of Persia (300 BC – 311 BC), a Bactrian princess and the wife of Alexander the Great. Her marriage to Alexander helped solidify his control over the Persian territories.
Another prominent figure is Roxanne Félix (1786 – 1842), a French dancer and actress who achieved fame during the early 19th century. She was renowned for her performances in various operas and ballets and was celebrated for her grace and beauty.
In the world of literature, Roxanne Buchze (1883 – 1946) was a prolific Dutch writer and poet. She is best known for her contributions to the poetry movement known as the "Tachtigers," which sought to modernize Dutch literature.
The name Roxanne has also been associated with several influential musicians. Roxanne Shanté (born 1969) is an American rapper and hip-hop pioneer, widely regarded as one of the most influential female rappers of the 1980s. Her battle with fellow rapper Roxanne Shante (born 1964) is considered a pivotal moment in the history of hip-hop.
Roxanne Toudouze (born 1963) is a French singer-songwriter and actress who achieved significant success in the 1980s and 1990s with her unique blend of pop, rock, and folk music.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Roxanne over time
The chart below shows babies named Roxanne registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Roxanne, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 20 births in 2024, compared with 212 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Roxanne by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Roxanne was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1148 | 160 | 5 |
| 2010s | #605 | 863 | 10 |
| 2000s | #473 | 910 | 10 |
| 1990s | #399 | 342 | 4 |
Geography
Where Roxanne is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Roxanne. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Roxanne ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #451 in 2012.
Across the UK
Roxanne in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#749 in 2023
32 years of NRS records, 316 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#451 in 2012
3 years of NISRA records, 11 total registered
Related
Names similar to Roxanne
- Ruby 60,551
- Rebecca 45,764
- Rosie 35,558
- Rachel 19,034
- Rose 18,043
- Robyn 14,556
- Rosa 6,236
- Rhiannon 6,180
- Rachael 4,702
- Rebekah 4,395
- Rhianna 4,177
- Ruth 4,118
FAQ
Roxanne: questions and answers
How popular is the name Roxanne in the UK right now?
In 2024, Roxanne was ranked #1541 for girls in England and Wales, with 20 births registered.
When was Roxanne most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 212 babies registered as Roxanne in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Roxanne?
A French feminine name of Persian origin meaning "dawn" or "bright".
How many people are called Roxanne in the UK?
A total of 2,275 babies have been registered as Roxanne across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 316 more in Scotland and 11 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Roxanne most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Roxanne ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #451 in 2012. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.