Roxana
Roxana is a Muslim girl name meaning “Little star, bright one”.
| Meaning | Little star, bright one |
|---|---|
| Gender | Girl |
| Origin | Persian (Old Iranian), via Greek |
| Arabic spelling | روکسانا |
| Pronunciation | rok-SAH-nah |
| Muslim name? | Used by Muslims |
Meaning and origin of Roxana
Roxana is the Greek rendering of an Old Iranian name usually explained as 'bright' or 'shining', related to the modern Persian roshan, 'light, bright'. The Persian form Roshanak adds the diminutive ending -ak, giving the affectionate sense 'little bright one' or 'little star'. Translations move between 'little star', 'bright one' and 'dawn', but they share the same image of light. The name is therefore Persian at heart, even though most people meet it through its Greek and Latin form.
Its most famous early bearer was Roxana of Bactria, the Iranian noblewoman who married Alexander the Great in the fourth century BC. Greek and Latin writers carried the name into Europe, where it later became Roxane in French and Roxanne in English, and is still found in Romania and Latin America. In the Muslim world the Persian Roshanak is used in Iran, Roksana is very common in Bangladesh, and Rukhsana is a familiar form in Pakistan and India. It is pronounced rok-SAH-nah. The Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi is a well-known modern bearer.
Famous people named Roxana
- Roxana of Bactria — Iranian noblewoman and wife of Alexander the Great
- Roxana Saberi — Iranian-American journalist and author
Is Roxana a Muslim name?
Yes, Roxana and its forms are used by Muslim families. It is Persian rather than Arabic in origin; Roksana is especially common in Bangladesh, and Roshanak in Iran.
Where is the name Roxana used?
Roksana is common in Bangladesh; Roxana is also used in Central Asia, Romania and Latin America.
Gifts with the name Roxana
- Roxana name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Roxana baby gifts (Amazon)
- Islamic baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Roxana
Read more
- Persian Muslim names guide
- Central Asian & Caucasus Muslim names guide
- Is it a Muslim name? 60 names checked
More girl names like Roxana
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Roxana mean?
Roxana means 'Little star, bright one'. It comes from Persian (Old Iranian), via Greek.
Is Roxana a Muslim name?
Yes, Roxana and its forms are used by Muslim families. It is Persian rather than Arabic in origin; Roksana is especially common in Bangladesh, and Roshanak in Iran.
How do you write Roxana in Arabic?
Roxana is written روکسانا in Arabic script.
How do you pronounce Roxana?
Roxana is pronounced rok-SAH-nah.
What is the Persian form of Roxana?
The Persian form is Roshanak, meaning 'little bright one' or 'little star'.
Is Roxana in the Quran?
No. Roxana is a Persian name that came into wider use through Greek, so it does not appear in the Quran, though Muslim families use it and its forms.
Is Roksana the same name as Roxana?
Yes. Roksana is the common Bangladeshi spelling of Roxana.