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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Roxy/Roxanna/Roxanne

38 replies

Loudandclear · 12/01/2025 05:57

It's about the only girls name we have both instantly liked when chatting through so many for months, and we have all but settled on that being the name. But then I read online it's a stripper/horrific name to give a child. Is it really that bad??

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KayEmAy · 14/01/2025 18:29

I adore Roxy, I think it's spunky and pretty!

GreenTeaLikesMe · 14/01/2025 13:01

I said no to Roxanne initially, but now, after seeing it more times, I'm kind of warming to it. It IS very cool and elegant. I do prefer Roxana though. Persian, has an "X" in it, what's not to love?

CornishTeaTime · 14/01/2025 09:35

🌸I love it but would spell Roxi @Loudandclear

sel2223 · 14/01/2025 09:33

I can't even say the name Roxanne without singing it in Stings voice!

That's not the say I don't like it, I just can't seem to hear it any other way.
I like nn Roxy

DreadingWinter · 14/01/2025 06:26

I know an early teen Roxie and she loves her name. She is officially Roxanne, but prefers the short version. No one in her age group thinks of the songs. There's a few at school and it's considered a cool name.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 13/01/2025 19:38

PercyFone · 12/01/2025 07:34

There's also Roxana (Rox -Are - Na). DD might have been that, but I'm not keen on Roxy as a NN.

Roxanne was the wife of Alexander the Great. Screw any contemporary prejudice, it's a fine ancient name.

This. Roxana is quite elegant and most people will think of the Empress.

Roxy is quite cutesy as a given name imo - although obviously she’ll fit in with many of her peers (Rosie, Ruby et al).

Roxanne is unfortunately still quite linked to the Police song, which would put me off personally - but I think Roxanna is a happy medium, if you don’t like the pronunciation of Roxana.

StormingNorman · 13/01/2025 18:41

Sorry OP it is a stripper name to my ear. Roxana (arna) is by far the nicest.

Catlord · 13/01/2025 18:36

Spelling - wise I like Roxana. Bit fresher looking and you should get fewer people singing Roxanne.

Catlord · 13/01/2025 18:33

Not horrific at all, it's an established name (good enough for Alexander the Great's wife) and sounds strong and attractive to me. I'd say it has a couple of associations of that nature though, Sting's Roxanne of course, and Daniel Defoe's Roxana which is about a courtesan (think Moll Flanders if you've not heard of this one).

I would do a full version though, not just Roxy.

GreenTeaLikesMe · 13/01/2025 03:28

Absolutely not Roxy as a given name, seriously. It's a fun nickname, but it will affect people's image of your child if it's put as the full name on top of things like job applications and CVs.

Roxana is absolutely fine as a given name.

umbrellasusie · 12/01/2025 20:35

I love Roxy
Really love it

reichs79 · 12/01/2025 20:29

Rosanne Barr from the tv show Roxanne or Steve Martin from the film Roxanne comes to mind for me. Have to be honest I don't like the name it's not an elegant sounding name.

Blingismything · 12/01/2025 18:53

I love it.

HugoYorway · 12/01/2025 18:44

Even if you spell it with one/two Ns, you will get the ar-na and the -anna pronunciations.

Original poster
Loudandclear · 12/01/2025 18:37

Thanks everyone.
Perhaps Roxana might be the way forward. I had kind of liked Rox-anna/anne as in pronunciation rather than the 'Ar-na' sound of a single n but I think I'd be happy with any. @Houselamp good to hear your opinion that you wouldn't like to have just been Roxy as to be honest that was probably what we planned to do but maybe we need a rethink as I would want to be confident that they'd have a good name that fits all stages of life.

OP posts:
BBQPete · 12/01/2025 16:38

As soon as I see it written down, or hear it said, my mind starts singing the Police song. There is a strong association. I wouldn't use it.

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · 12/01/2025 16:26

Friend is Roxanne, everyone calls her Roxy, her choice. Named after the song.

Houselamp · 12/01/2025 16:26

To add, I would not have liked to be just called Roxy, it was a cool name as a child but I do like the more formal Roxanne as an adult.

Houselamp · 12/01/2025 16:25

It's my name, I like it, it's not too common but easy to say.
I liked it especially as a teenager because it sounded cool when I went by Roxy and it has been fine as an adult. I am usually called Rox, but my MIL has only ever called me Anne as she felt thats a more 'acceptable' nickname.
My name does get sung back at me sometimes, that will probably be less of a problem for a new baby as both songs stop being well known.

Santasbigredbobblehat · 12/01/2025 16:04

I know a lot of little Roxanas who have Romanian heritage. It’s nice.

HugoYorway · 12/01/2025 15:55

Poxy Roxy and Roxanne by The Police.

GreenTeaLikesMe · 12/01/2025 14:34

Roxana is one of the oldest names still in use. I think it's fab. Not keen on Roxanne though, my young nieces definitely knew the song when it came up at karaoke, and names ending in -anne like Joanne and Suzanne are very 70s and not due a revival yet.

caringcarer · 12/01/2025 14:23

cariadlet · 12/01/2025 07:52

My first thought was the Police song so it isn't a name that I would saddle a child with. But it's quite an old song now so maybe that's a generational connection which doesn't matter so much now.

I immediately thought of the Police song too. It will have associations for some.

Helpme6352617 · 12/01/2025 14:05

Loudandclear · 12/01/2025 05:57

It's about the only girls name we have both instantly liked when chatting through so many for months, and we have all but settled on that being the name. But then I read online it's a stripper/horrific name to give a child. Is it really that bad??

No it’s really absolutely not a stripper/horrific name at all, it’s a wonderful name.
My late best friend was Roxanne. My daughter is named after her
x

HonestCrab · 12/01/2025 14:00

I think younger people will associate Roxanne with the Arizona Zervas song rather the Police one. Not much better honestly. I don't feel like you should let that put you off though. As PP have said, it's an ancient name. Do prefer Roxana. Roxy feels like it should have "Music" after it. Ha!