Thoughts on the name [name_f]Roxana[/name_f] ([name_f]Roxy[/name_f] for short)? I’d prefer it to be pronounced with a soft “a” sound as in Rox-ah-na. I want something stronger sounding and I’m not into the feminine name trend right now ([name_f]Olivia[/name_f], [name_u]Vivian[/name_u], [name_f]Lilly[/name_f], etc)…
Does [name_f]Roxana[/name_f] sound too old of a name though (i.e. [name_f]Brenda[/name_f], [name_f]Pam[/name_f])?
Suggestions on middle names?
[name_f]Roxana[/name_f] doesn’t sound like and old name, and since you’re not too into “feminine” names I say [name_f]Roxana[/name_f] fits the bill. It’s not my cup of tea, mostly because I dislike the nickname [name_f]Roxie[/name_f], but you seem to like the nickname.
Your taste in names are the exact opposite of mine, so it’s hard for me to put in other name suggestions here (I usually try to put suggestions up with my comments). I’ll just leave you saying that I don’t think [name_f]Roxana[/name_f] is too old of a name, and I think that it’s perfectly usable (the name used to be on my list, but it wasn’t feminine enough for me).
Thanks - hoping more people will provide their input as well!
I don’t think [name_f]Roxana[/name_f] necessarily sounds old. It does have a bit of an 80’s vibe, probably because it reminds me of the song “[name_f]Roxanne[/name_f].” The “x” makes it pretty modern, though. And I love [name_f]Roxy[/name_f] – that’s a fun nickname! But I don’t know about the soft “a” pronunciation. I’d be more inclined to pronounce the first “a” like “apple.”
I thought of the Police song too 
I really prefer the Rox-ah-na pronounciation but I know i should be prepared with correcting people a lot in the beginning. TBH, I was afraid someone might say it sounded kinda like a St!pper name! yes? no? :o
Oh, [name_f]Roxana[/name_f]. I cannot tell you how many times this name has been on and off my list. I pn it rox-anna but I like the way you’re saying it. I had a friend in middle school named [name_f]Oksanna[/name_f] (ox-[name_m]AH[/name_m]-na) so it reminds me of her.
The reason [name_f]Roxana[/name_f] makes her appearance, and then eventually falls off the list is because 1. I hate the nn [name_f]Roxie[/name_f], and 2. It does have the exotic dancer feel to me sometimes. [name_f]Roxy[/name_f] especially. But the meaning and the sound are gorgeous.
It doesn’t feel old to me at all, and if you live it, I say go for it.
Yeah, I prefer the whole name vs the nn, but I wouldn’t hate it if people did call her [name_f]Roxy[/name_f] (my dh and I wouldn’t though). thanks for the opinion! 
I quite like [name_f]Roxana[/name_f]. I like names that are feminine in the sense they aren’t boys names, but that are tailored and have some hard sounds in them and a bit of grit.
[name_f]Roxana[/name_f] is in that hazy neither-current-nor-old, along with a lot of names I like. It reminds me of [name_f]Katrina[/name_f] or [name_f]Veronica[/name_f] in that sense - it hasn’t aged that badly because it was never all that popular? It’s almost an Eccentric Classic, i.e. always around but not in big numbers at any time.
Roxelana/Ruxandra are related, and I like them too, but they’re more [name_m]Just[/name_m] Eccentric, if you know what I mean.
Whenever I hear [name_f]Roxanne[/name_f] or [name_f]Roxanna[/name_f] I do think of the Police song and [name_f]Roxanne[/name_f] herself, a lady of the night.
I find it a very grown up, saucy, perhaps even naughty name!
Have you thought about [name_f]Morganna[/name_f]? I think it is similar, just as grown up, non frilly, but far more stately and classic (which you may not care about of course!) or [name_f]Morwenna[/name_f]?
Honestly, not a fan. It feels very harsh to me.
I love [name_f]Roxana[/name_f], and [name_f]Roxanne[/name_f], both names are just my taste. Feminine enough, and strong. I’ve met a Roksolana once, and loved this version too, tho i didn’t know this one before.
thanks everyone!
I really like [name_f]Roxana[/name_f] when I think of it as a Persian name meaning dawn. I’ve known several lovely and brilliant Iranian-American intellectuals with that name. I think that the pesky association with the Police song will go away very soon. It’s only our generation (or mine, rather, growing up and cognizant of pop culture in the 1980s) that will make that association. I’d say it’s due for a revival.