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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Roxanna

14 replies

SealsOnWeels · 27/01/2023 21:35

What do you think of Roxanna (would be pronounced rox-ARE-na not rox-ANN-na) for a baby girl?

We want a name that works well in English and Urdu, and so an alternative is the more traditional Rukhshana.

Thanks :)

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IceReckon · 27/01/2023 21:38

I'd assume it'd get pronounced rox- Anna at first as it's the same spelling, worth considering if it'd annoy you or her in future having to correct everyone initially.

ChildrenOfTheQuorn · 27/01/2023 21:52

I would also assume it was pronounced RoxANNA. If that's not the pronunciation then I'd think of another name tbh.

cavebaby · 27/01/2023 22:00

Rukhshana is lovely. Anne/Anna/Roxanne all have the hard AN sound and I think anybody would look at Roxanna and pronounce it similarly. Of course familiar people would get used to your preferred pronunciation but it will be a lifetime of correcting strangers.

Sunsetred · 27/01/2023 22:04

I love Roxana but what put me off using it was it being shortened to Roxie which I don't like.

Luredbyapomegranate · 27/01/2023 22:05

I really like it - I’d write it Roxana if you want the long a ‘ar’ sound

LittleCactus · 27/01/2023 22:10

I would automatically pronounce it Rox-ANN- a and I don't like the other pronunciation, sorry!

Twoinapod · 28/01/2023 00:21

I think it would always be mistaken as Rox-anna. Roxanne/Roxie type names are often linked with stripper names so that would put me off.

Rukhshana is better

pastabakes · 28/01/2023 02:35

I’d spell it Roxana for the pronunciation you want. I know an Oxana pronounced the same way.

Or just stick with Rukhshana!

Roxanna will get mispronounced as Rox-ann-a.

icefishing · 28/01/2023 02:49

This name isn't going to get you the pronunciation that you are looking for in the UK.

IreneJones · 28/01/2023 04:56

I'm in the UK and went to school with a Roxanna and it was always pronounced Rox-arn- a.

ApolloandDaphne · 28/01/2023 06:08

I suspect the pronunciation may depend on where you live. No one in Scotland would say Rox-arn-a.

Snugglemonkey · 28/01/2023 06:13

I am Irish living in Scotland and Rox arna would be a v weird pronunciation in either place. The accent is a big part of whether that will work for you. Though Rukhshana also does not create a sharna sound.

Boneweary · 28/01/2023 06:15

You’ll also get idiots singing at her constantly, and while I know it’s impossible to avoid this entirely (anyone called Ruby pre 2007) it’s bloody irritating, so I wouldn’t.

RuthW · 28/01/2023 09:34

Luredbyapomegranate · 27/01/2023 22:05

I really like it - I’d write it Roxana if you want the long a ‘ar’ sound

This.

Lovely name.

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