Roxanne Rocks!

September 1, 2009 9:56 AM

Should we name our baby girl Roxanne? Why or why not?

We're expecting our first child in January and we're pretty sure we're going to name her Roxanne, but we wanted to hear other people's opinions of the name. We like it because it's a bit unusual without being too weird, it works in many cultures, it can be sexy, modern, and strong and also feminine, old-fashioned, and romantic, and the nickname Roxy is awesome.

We know about the song by The Police and we're not too concerned about that (but maybe we should be). So, what do you think of the name? See any potential problems? If you're not a fan, feel free to suggest something else you think might work.

posted by wrinkle to society & culture (112 answers total)

Roxy makes me think of the film Chicago. And the girl off Eastenders. I like Roxanne, though.
posted by Solomon at 9:58 AM on September 1, 2009

If you are so unsure of the name that you need to poll the general population, I'd say no. Come up with a name with no doubt in your mind, and that's the one.
posted by Palerale at 10:00 AM on September 1, 2009 [1 favorite]

If I made a list of 100 names for my daughter, that name would not be on the list, and I love wonky names. I personally am fond of vowel combos like Niamh or Caitlin.

I like Roxy, but it sounds square to me, like a box. Not so feminine. I have met a couple young Sheena's though, and because we all know that Sheena is a Punk Rocker now, I like it as slightly different.

However, and I say this as a person with a very very weird name (Seriously, on facebook, there is only one other of me in the world and now we're friends because it freaks us out to see each others facebook stati), you name her what you want to and she'll be beautiful because of it.
posted by TomMelee at 10:00 AM on September 1, 2009 [2 favorites]

I like it.

Look, there's a culture downside to nearly every single girl's name, unless you make one up. Why not give her a name associated with romance and independence?
posted by muddgirl at 10:01 AM on September 1, 2009 [7 favorites]

I think your take on it is accurate. Go for it.

(Roxy Music is what springs to mind here.)
posted by kmennie at 10:01 AM on September 1, 2009

I can't hear the name Roxanne without 1. Also hearing Sting sing the name in my head. 2. Envisioning Steve Martin with a fake nose.

She will, undoubtedly, have people sing her name constantly. And they'll always think they're being incredibly clever in doing so. I love my name (Phoebe), but every time I introduce myself, people say "Oh, like on Friends," or "Oh, like on Charmed," or, if they're an indie dude who's trying to flirt with me, "Oh, like Holden Caulfield's little sister." None of these things are particularly charming--in fact, they're pretty annoying. I wouldn't trade my name for the world, but if I was constantly being sung to? I'm sure that would wear thin even faster.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:02 AM on September 1, 2009 [2 favorites]

I find that a very unfeminine name for some reason, and that comes from someone with a 'boy's name', who gave her daughter a 'boy's name'!
posted by fish tick at 10:03 AM on September 1, 2009

Palerale has good advice.

I can't hear the name Roxanne without thinking of the Police song, but you've already covered that. It doesn't bias my opinion of the girl/woman, it just pops in my head.
posted by owtytrof at 10:04 AM on September 1, 2009

I have to give that idea the red light. For the same reasons as above. I've gone through life with a given reaction to my name, and it's annoying.
posted by atchafalaya at 10:08 AM on September 1, 2009

It's not terribly likely that your daughter's peers will think of the tune by The Police or the Steve Martin movie when they hear her name.

It's a fine name, a great song, and a great movie.
posted by Xoebe at 10:09 AM on September 1, 2009 [4 favorites]

If you like it, go for it, as long as you're aware that she will have to put up with people telling her she doesn't have to put on the red light for her entire life (or until people forget about that song). That could get annoying, but I don't think if it's worth avoiding the name you want just because of that.
posted by shammack at 10:09 AM on September 1, 2009

We're asking about the name less because we're unsure and more because we didn't want to overlook some huge negative association with the name.
posted by wrinkle at 10:10 AM on September 1, 2009

I like it, but I can't hear it without having the Police song start up in my head.

Also, just in general when it comes to naming babies--if you ask people what they think ahead of time, some of them will always say "Ew, no, reminds me of this horrible girl who sat in front of me in 6th grade homeroom" or similar. But if you present them with a fait accompli, they'll say "How charming and old-fashioned! What a pretty name!"

But, since you asked, I think that particular name would be a bit of a burden, no matter how charming and old-fashioned it is.
posted by HotToddy at 10:11 AM on September 1, 2009 [2 favorites]

I really like it. If you (and she) can live with having people sing her name to her every single time they meet her and think it's cute, go for it.

Seriously, there's nothing wrong with Roxanne or Roxy, and if a Police song is the worst name-related thing that will happen, she'll be just fine.

She will, undoubtedly, have people sing her name constantly. And they'll always think they're being incredibly clever in doing so.

So true. Seriously, people - you will NEVER be funny/original/clever doing this, so please stop.
posted by widdershins at 10:11 AM on September 1, 2009 [1 favorite]

Roxanne doesn't sound too awful when said in a neutral American accent, or even a Southern one, but if you put on your best north-Midwestern accent, it sounds horrible. (Racks-ay-enne).
posted by coppermoss at 10:12 AM on September 1, 2009

TomMelee is the man here.

Roxanne? Love the name. Roxy is an awesome nickname. If she prefers, she can go by "Anne'.

Also, invoking UTFO's "Roxanne Roxanne" is serious win.
posted by DWRoelands at 10:12 AM on September 1, 2009

According to the Baby Name Wizard, it will be a very unique name among her age group. I say go for it.

She will have a unique name instead of being one of a innumerable number of Caitlins/Abbys/Aubreys/Madisons and rather disturbingly Mileys etc.
posted by MasonDixon at 10:13 AM on September 1, 2009

Roxanne is a perfectly fine name for this reason: (pay attention, parents!)

It's an actual FIRST name.

Unlike Hunter, Campbell, Braydon (Braydon!) Skyler, Mackenzie, Taylor, Madison, ad nauseum.

Go with Roxanne, I beg you.
posted by BostonTerrier at 10:13 AM on September 1, 2009 [5 favorites]

Count me among those who really like it.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 10:13 AM on September 1, 2009

It makes me think of Eddie Murphy in 48 hrs singing Roxanne... grating.
posted by jeffamaphone at 10:14 AM on September 1, 2009

Look, everyone has the potential to have some beef with their name. I have one, and most people who heard it from the time I was born cooed, "Oh, that's such a pretty name!" I just dislike it because it has a lot less history than a name like Roxanne - it was formed with a feminine Latinate ending tacked on to a modern-popular Celtic male name. I don't think anyone had it before the 20th century.

If you're worried about teasing, rest assured that there are plenty of other venues open to kids if they are determined to tease. I got called Webster and Braindoggy, and neither of those are based off my name. Your kid's gonna have to put up with criticism in some form or another, and I just don't think this particular name will be that easy a target for other children in her age group, unless they really like classic rock hits.

Roxanne is great. You like it - go for it. But if you ultimately consider all the options and decide against it, may I offer Rosamund and/or Rosalind as slightly polished alternatives?

Seriously, though, I'd be jazzed to be able to introduce myself as Roxy.
posted by dorothy humbird at 10:14 AM on September 1, 2009

My name is Eileen and I do get "Come On Eileen" sung to me frequently and, surprisingly, it doesn't bother me at all. And her peers might not even be familair with "Roxanne," considering it came out in 1978.

I like the name and think it's fine. I do prefer Roxanne to Roxy, though, just because Roxy sounds like a nightclub.
posted by emd3737 at 10:17 AM on September 1, 2009

Having a name that's used in a well-known song can be really obnoxious. My first name's Caroline, and every time I meet a new person it's either "Sweeeeeet Caroline!" a la Neil Diamond or "Caroliiiiiiine, she's the reason for the word 'bitch'" a la Outkast. I like my name otherwise, but seriously, it gets old. And everyone who does it thinks they're just so clever. Reading "Roxanne" made me hear Sting howling in my head, so your daughter would almost certainly have the same problem.

"Roxanna" could be a nice way to sidestep that issue.
posted by oinopaponton at 10:17 AM on September 1, 2009

I had a best friend in 5th grade named Roxanne, so I have good memories of the name. We used to affectionately call her Foxy Roxy.
posted by bendy at 10:18 AM on September 1, 2009

It makes me think of the real Roxanne and Roxanne Shante.

"Roxanne, Roxanne...I want to be your man!" and all that
posted by vacapinta at 10:18 AM on September 1, 2009

I think it's a great name. I know a really smart, funny and genuinely kind Roxi and I bet your daughter will be another one.
posted by kate blank at 10:21 AM on September 1, 2009

My first name's Caroline, and every time I meet a new person it's either "Sweeeeeet Caroline!" a la Neil Diamond

I was just going to say "thank god you don't live in Boston" and then I checked your profile and you do. So sorry.
posted by jerseygirl at 10:21 AM on September 1, 2009 [1 favorite]

I really can't imagine kids her age are going to immediately jump to sting singing roxanne when she gets introduced around.
posted by shownomercy at 10:21 AM on September 1, 2009 [1 favorite]

I know someone named Roxanne, and every time she meets someone new, they sing the song. I've no doubt that one day, someone will sing it and she will sock them in the jaw. That said, she is nearing 50, and the song was very much a part of her pop culture experience. It might be different with a kid now.
posted by honeybee413 at 10:22 AM on September 1, 2009

I love Roxy/Roxie, but I'm not really a fan of Roxanne - I'm not a fan of ___anne names in general. If you were dead set on the nickname Roxy but ambivalent about Roxanne, you could probably go with any other name that starts with Ro - Rosalind, for example.

Roxy is also the name of a fairly popular girls' clothing line, which could be either cool or embarrassing.

I've played a drinking game based on the song "Roxanne" - you divide into two teams; one team drinks on every "Roxanne" and the other drinks on every "put on the red light," so for me, at least, the name is associated with getting pretty drunk.
posted by Metroid Baby at 10:25 AM on September 1, 2009

I agree children her age will probably not know that song. And even if they did, it'll be some lame song their parents play.

You should choose whatever name you like for your child--don't worry about others' responses unless you name the kid Hitler or something.

My best advice to you is, whatever name you decide on, do not tell anyone until the baby is born and the name is given, because undoubtedly someone will have a negative story or connotation associated with the name.
posted by Kafkaesque at 10:25 AM on September 1, 2009 [1 favorite]

I think Roxanne is a lovely name.

Also, I have a lovely name. I also do not have seashell eyes, but I believe one hundred thousand different people have, during my 44 years of existence, sung me the damn song addressed by Mr. Lennon to his eponymous-with-me mother. Each person has then looked delighted with themselves for having come up with this totally original sally.

It has not made me hate my name. It has made me kind of hate the song. And humanity.
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:26 AM on September 1, 2009

I get the sense that what you're asking is "is there any famous criminal named Roxanne that we may be temporarily forgetting about" or something like that, rather than "what are the associations people have with this name" period.

So no, there are no infamous or nefarious Roxannes that I know of in history. You'll have a lot of people that instantly think of the Police song when they hear the name, but...there are cultural associations we have with practically every name now. Some don't even come along until later in life -- my mother's name is Jane, which was as nondescript as you can get, and so for most of her life she was unencumbered by any kind of name association when she met people.

....until she married my father, who goes by "Dick." *

ANY name you choose will remind people of something. fortunately it seems that Roxanne will not be reminding anyone of anything too negative.


* And let me get this question out of the way now: yes we had a dog, and NO, its name was NOT "Spot." My brother and I told our parents that if they named the dog "Spot," we'd run away from home.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:29 AM on September 1, 2009 [2 favorites]

I actually think it's a really pretty name and I particularly love Roxy. I remember being when the movie "Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael" came out, I spent a year or two wishing my name were Roxy. It just had a fun sound to it. I have a first name that's used in a very common and grating song and people sing it to me all the time. It doesn't make me hate my name, it just makes me roll my eyes at the person belting it out. On the other hand, it's also used in a cute, older song and when people actually know enough old time music to sing me that one, I'm sort of charmed.
posted by diamondsky at 10:30 AM on September 1, 2009

Yes. There are a million great associations here.

The kicker is that when people ask if she's named after the song, you can say: "of course! We wanted a song about a strong, intelligent, discerning young woman who stands up for herself, and who does that better than Roxanne! The Kangol Kid thought he could take advantage of her by bein' a big, strong man, but she saw through all that; EMD The Educated Rapper thought he could dazzle her with all kinds of fancy words, but she didn't play that; and Doctor Ice, no matter how slick he thought he was, she was colder. That's why she inspired a whole generation of young women."

And when they look at you sort of confused, you can say: "Huh? What song were you talking about? We named her after Roxanne, Roxanne by UTFO."

Then you can spend the next fifteen minutes recounting the Roxanne Wars to them.

And when your little girl asks about her name, you can tell her about a 14-year-old girl called Roxanne Shante who had a few hit records because she was great at rapping; a 14-year-old girl strong enough to demand a clause in her contract that said her complete education would be paid for in full by the record company, and a 14-year-old girl who grew up to be strong enough to see it through all the way to a Ph. D. in Psychology from Cornell University.

Roxanne is an awesome name. Sure, she'll have to roll her eyes whenever people talk about the Police, but there's a whole lot more to the name than that.
posted by koeselitz at 10:31 AM on September 1, 2009 [10 favorites]

And her peers might not even be familair with "Roxanne," considering it came out in 1978.

By the time she's an adult, her peers will have heard "Roxanne" on the "oldies" stations enough that it will very likely catch up to her. But it's a classic song and nothing to be embarrassed by, despite the subject matter. Some people don't even know what it's about. They just sing along, just like with "Every Breath You Take." So, it might get annoying after a while, but honestly - everybody's got a name that reminds somebody else of something. At least hers would be unique! I like it. I don't really like "Roxy" for short, but Roxanne is neat.
posted by katillathehun at 10:31 AM on September 1, 2009

I really can't imagine kids her age are going to immediately jump to sting singing roxanne when she gets introduced around.

No, but all the adults around her will, and it's fairly likely that by college, her peers will have heard it and be familiar with it. I mean, I had a friend in high school who loved to go around singing "Gloria" and we were born twenty years after its release. Granted, there have been plenty of covers of "Gloria", so if you're hoping that the kids will have no familiarity with the song (unlikely), you'd better likewise hope that there's never going to be a hit cover of it, either.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:32 AM on September 1, 2009

I like it too. It is actually very similar to my first daughter's name (which I chose for many of the same reasons you list) so I may be biased. I started singing it too though - not that is a bad thing, my son's name is part of a well known song but few people actually sing it to him.
posted by saucysault at 10:34 AM on September 1, 2009

Just because you name her Roxanne doesn't mean you have to put out the red light.

I love that name and if I'd have had a daughter, she'd have been Roxanne for sure.
posted by imjustsaying at 10:35 AM on September 1, 2009

Don't worry about the song thing. There are plenty of names that have song associations. Sheesh, my high school calc teacher used to sing "Once in love with Amy" - which, yes, was weird, but he was weird to begin with, and he was gay so I didn't think he was hitting on me.
posted by radioamy at 10:36 AM on September 1, 2009

I'm not hitting on you and I don't think it will make you feel any better but I named my cat Phoebe. She's a Siamese, Tabby mix that thinks she's a dog.

Ha! Get that one a lot, too, but it's usually people's dogs that are named "Phoebe."

I do like the suggestion for "Roxanna", which has all of the same positives as "Roxanne" but none of the negatives.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:37 AM on September 1, 2009

By the way, the original version of Roxanne's Revenge has always been the best one. Girl can rock.
posted by koeselitz at 10:38 AM on September 1, 2009

The name makes me picture a girl with huge 80s hair, and the Sting song. It's always had a kind of trashy association in my mind, to the extent that when my friend and I found out our gym teacher in high school was named Roxanne we snickered about it. (Graduated high school in 2002 for a timeframe reference.) When I hear "Roxy" in particular I think of a girl playing in a crappy girlrock band in a seedy club.
posted by Nattie at 10:39 AM on September 1, 2009 [1 favorite]

Also: for what it's worth, I'm 25 and nearly everyone I know has heard the song Roxanne. Sting has had some staying power.
posted by Nattie at 10:41 AM on September 1, 2009

I love the name Roxanne.

As someone with a name that doesn't have a diminutive, here's my list of why I envy the name Roxanne:

• It's versatile: she can use it whole, she can shorten it to Roxy or Ann or Annie or Xanna or Ro or if she's not a "ending in a vowel" type of gal, she can use Rox. That's seven names right there and she hasn't even had to tap her middle name yet.

• It has a first initial that lends itself to grand signatures: just imagine the flourishes she can draw with that lovely capital R.

• It's feminine without being cutesy, romantic yet strong, it hasn't been overused (it last showed up on the SSN popular baby name list in 2000 and even then it only got to 950 out of 100) yet it is recognizable and easily spelled.

I named my son after my dad, who happens to have a name which was popularized by an Elton John song that is still often played on lite rock stations. Not a single one of my son's peers has ever taunted him with that song, I doubt any of them has ever heard it.
posted by jamaro at 10:43 AM on September 1, 2009 [2 favorites]

I think it's awesome, go for it!
posted by nomad at 10:43 AM on September 1, 2009

I scrolled down to suggest "Roxanna", too.
posted by bonobothegreat at 10:45 AM on September 1, 2009

Roxy sounds awesome! I think it'd be a great name for a girl/woman. Then again, I could be biased because I already know a Roxy (Roxana/Роксана: she's a Bulgarian with a Russian name) and she's quite likable.
posted by halogen at 10:46 AM on September 1, 2009

The teasing possibilities for Roxanne seem mild compared to what I've suffered being named Janet, thank you Rocky Horror Picture Show, and I've survived.
posted by JanetLand at 10:47 AM on September 1, 2009 [2 favorites]

I think it's an awesome name and you should do it. As to the song association, well, it will be an easy way for her to weed out the idiots. My first name is Jane and I've consistantly used Tarzan jokes as a way to weed out the people who are just too annoying to be friends with. You make a joke about Tarzan or sing "Janie's got a gun" at me within a few minutes of meeting, I assume you just don't have that much important to say. Having a name associated with something pop-culture related is handy in that those that make the simple joke are often the ones you want to avoid or at least not spend a ton of time with. Although the one boy who asked me if I was "living on reds, vitamin C and cocaine" did do quite well.
posted by teleri025 at 10:49 AM on September 1, 2009 [2 favorites]

For what it's worth, my Dad's long-term partner is named Roxanne, is friendly, kind, an amazing grandmother to my baby, sweet to my wife, and one of the best people I know, so I love the name Roxanne.

When I think of the name "Roxanne," I don't think of the song, or the wars, or anyone other than her, because she's great. Eventually, your daughter will fill the same space in

My wife and I named our daughter "Kate"- for about 15 minutes, people made jokes about "John and Kate Plus 8," which got under my skin. Now I don't even hear that- I see Kate as our Kate and Roxanne as our Roxanne.
posted by elmer benson at 10:52 AM on September 1, 2009

Ok, my name is Roccena (pronounced Roxeena). Every one thinks my name is Roxanne. It is not. My nickname is Roxy. Still everyone thinks my name is Roxanne. All through school I was met with screeches of ROXANNE! and then they'd go into singing the whole damn song. I hated it. Maybe I hated it even more because my name truly wasn't Roxanne. They were just messing up on so many levels that it made me cringe.

Ok, so maybe she'll go by Roxy. Did you know that Shamrock Farm's dairy products mascot is Roxie the cow? And did you know that I know of at least 6 dogs named Roxy? And who ever has a dog named Roxy will be sure to tell you that "hey! Your daughter has the same name as our dog!" or when she's older, "Hey! Our dog's name is Roxy!" And did you know that for the rest of her life, when she gets introduced to some one else they will either start singing Roxanne, be told about a dog or cow with the same name or be referred to as Foxy Roxy?

Don't do it. Oh gosh, just don't do it.
posted by Sassyfras at 10:53 AM on September 1, 2009 [2 favorites]

And one last thing:

The fact that the name "Roxanne" means one thing to everybody in America who's heard the pop song but something completely different to this one vibrant subculture in Queens and the Bronx in the mid to late 80s—the fact that to most people it just means 'that one song by Sting' but to some people it means a strong young woman making herself heard—is actually really, really cool, I think. Sorta emblematic of what names should be like; that name comes with a secret history and heritage built in already.
posted by koeselitz at 10:53 AM on September 1, 2009

51 comments and nobody mentions that Roxana was the name of Alexander the Great's wife? Who are you people and what have you done with my friend MetaFilter?

It's a great name, and as she grows up, she'll get a kick out of learning about the connections, cultural and historical. Speaking as someone who has an easily mocked first name and last name, I can assure you that the sort of teasing she might get will only give her a healthy dislike of lazy humor and cliche. Listen to "A Boy Named Sue" a few times for courage and then dub boldly.
posted by felix betachat at 10:59 AM on September 1, 2009 [2 favorites]

I love Roxanne; I immediately thought both 'strong and feminine' as you said.

She will, undoubtedly, have people sing her name constantly. And they'll always think they're being incredibly clever in doing so.

People do annoying things to every name there is, even very common ones. I've got a few people I deal with at work who can't resist singing "Sarah Smile" (Hall and Oates) at me every time they see me. Even if you name your child something which has no songs or other associations with it, there's no guarantee that by the time she's 10, or 15, or 20, such a song or association will not have cropped up in the popular culture.
posted by frobozz at 11:00 AM on September 1, 2009

I love the name Roxanne and especially Roxy as a nickname. I love that it has the letter "X" in it, just because I think X is an under-appreciated letter of the alphabet.

My name is Jeannie and I have been sung to very, very often. (Less so now that I am approaching middle age.) Sometimes the singing is funny and endearing (I Dream of Jeannie theme song, Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair, Jeannie/Jeannie/Jeannie by Eddie Cochran). Sometimes it's intensely annoying (Jean Genie by Bowie, Cheer up Sleepy Jean by The Monkeys, Jeannie Needs A Shooter by Warren Zevon, Little Jeannie by Elton John, sigh). It's cool, though, I'm not bitter about the singing. No one ever forgets my name. :)
posted by jeanmari at 11:00 AM on September 1, 2009

Should we name our baby girl Roxanne?

No.

Why or why not?

Most common association: Police song. In that song, she was a hooker.
posted by bunny hugger at 11:09 AM on September 1, 2009

We're doing a fair bit of baby name discussing in my house right now, too. I'm not sure if that makes me more or less able to answer the question, but here you go:

I don't have any particular associations--positive or negative--with Roxanne (besides the Police song; I had forgotten the Steve Martin movie, actually) or with Roxy. If there's one thing I've learned in the whole what's-the-baby's-name-going-to-be circus is that you will encounter someone who hates any name you come up with.

True story: While my oldest nephew was gestating, my sister decided on his name (it may or may not have been inspired by a soap opera character; my sister has never admitted it if so). Nobody else liked the name (I was 13 and didn't care one way or the other). My mom was kind of obnoxious about how much she didn't like the name. 19 years later, that's his name and he's been a ray of sunshine to all of us every day since. If you ask any member of my family about that name now, they will tell you they love it.
If you like Roxanne, name your kid Roxanne and call her Roxy and everyone else will come around. On my honor.
posted by willpie at 11:15 AM on September 1, 2009

When I was in college, someone played that song REPEATEDLY FOR 5 HOURS outside the dorm window of a girl with the name. I hate the song; love the name.
posted by CathyG at 11:19 AM on September 1, 2009

I also have a name that, when people hear it, they cannot resist singing the very famous song associated with it, but I don't mind at all (and it's a much less cool song than Roxanne). I like the song Roxanne, too, so there's that.

I say do it.
posted by Pax at 11:21 AM on September 1, 2009

I loved that name when I was a kid, and to this day I have no idea why, but it makes me think it's a good idea. And the Roxanne Wars makes it even better.
posted by 8k at 11:22 AM on September 1, 2009 [1 favorite]

With regard to the people mentioning The Police song, and that the classmates of a kid born today may have to listen to the song "Roxanne" -- I think some of those of us who remember that song from when it was extremely popular may be underestimating how freaking old we are.

That was a thousand years ago, people.

I don't know what them young whippersnappers today are listening to. I can't even make a joke about it--that's how totally out of touch I am.

I'm just saying, don't get the wrong idea about 1982 (or whatever it was): that was almost thirty years ago.

I'll just sit here while you go get a cold towel for your forehead.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 11:28 AM on September 1, 2009

Yeah, and how many songs WAY older than we all are do WE know? You can't discount a song's staying power based on its release date.
posted by katillathehun at 11:30 AM on September 1, 2009 [1 favorite]

Seconding bunny hugger (and possibly others). It's not just a Police song, it's a Police song about a prostitute, and most people know that. Just my personal opinion, but I think the name Roxanne sounds really trashy (possibly because of the fact that the most famous Roxanne is a whore that Sting sung about...)
posted by kookaburra at 11:34 AM on September 1, 2009

(derail)
Cheer up Sleepy Jean by The Monkeys

Daydream Believer by The Monkees

(end derail)
posted by Lucinda at 11:38 AM on September 1, 2009

You can't discount a song's staying power based on its release date.

No, you can't, but I can't think of any song from say, the fifties or sixties that would have a stigma attached to it now. I mean, the only one that sort of come close is 'Lola', off the top of my head, and I can't imagine a kid taking crap for Lola in the 90's. But you know, YMMV.

The thing that I always think of, about names, is The Simpsons episode where they're trying to think of a name for their son, and they keep discarding names, they go through them one by one and reject them, like "we can't call him Danny--they'll call him Danny Fanny" and so on, and then they go, "How about Bart? Nothing rhymes with Bart!"

So, there's no truly perfect name that the kid will guaranteed never, ever take crap for.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 11:41 AM on September 1, 2009

Sure. "Anne" is a perfectly respectable nickname if she has a problem with singing or Roxy. You can give her a nice middle name she can always go by, too, if you're really worried.

Personally it makes me think of Roooo-xy Heart.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 11:53 AM on September 1, 2009

No, you can't, but I can't think of any song from say, the fifties or sixties that would have a stigma attached to it now. I mean, the only one that sort of come close is 'Lola', off the top of my head, and I can't imagine a kid taking crap for Lola in the 90's. But you know, YMMV.

Ba ba ba, Barbara Ann.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:55 AM on September 1, 2009 [1 favorite]

As someone named Robin who had to hear about "Rockin' Robin" every day of her childhood years (and still today but more on a limited basis), I say don't do it. And yes, my childhood years were about 30 years after that song was made famous.
posted by getawaysticks at 12:03 PM on September 1, 2009

Yeah, my name song came out the year I was born (after I was born thankyouverymuch) and I really only get it from people who are at least as old as I am. It's as famous as Roxanne, maybe more.
posted by Pax at 12:05 PM on September 1, 2009

An awesome person I know named Roxanne. And yes, Anne (my name :) is a very reasonable adaptation if she chooses to shorten it.
posted by tizzie at 12:10 PM on September 1, 2009

No, you can't, but I can't think of any song from say, the fifties or sixties that would have a stigma attached to it now.

Good golly, ME! ;)
posted by MsMolly at 12:10 PM on September 1, 2009 [2 favorites]

If it helps, it's been definitively disproven that your choice of name would have any bearing on your child's success, one way or the other.

Personally, I think it's a great name choice.
posted by Citrus at 12:22 PM on September 1, 2009

I'm younger than a lot of people on here and I definitely wouldn't associate it with anything other than Chicago- while I've heard the other songs mentioned here, I had to look them up to remind me of what they were. Your daughter's peers won't know any of those songs. If you like it, go with it.
posted by kro at 12:23 PM on September 1, 2009

I listen to "Wait, wait... Don't Tell Me!" every weekend, and have never thought "Oh that poor woman with the prostitute name from the song" when they introduce Roxanne Roberts.

I suspect that the sort of people who sing songs or name sitcom characters upon meeting someone named Eileen, Caroline, Roxanne, etc. will find some other way to make people with names not famous in pop culture equally uncomfortable.

I would think that, if there's an obvious pop culture reference with which to pester your daughter, she can brush it off with "Gee, never heard that one before..."
posted by Meg_Murry at 12:23 PM on September 1, 2009

Are the "Barbara Ann" or "Good Golly, Miss Molly" references stigmas, though, or just references? I think of "stigma" in more of a negative context -- like my neighbors who decided the name "Columbine" was perfectly lovely for their daughter, but then three months later....

(They left her name "Columbine", although sometimes they use the name "Bina").
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:23 PM on September 1, 2009

True, the Police's "Roxanne" is over 30 years old (1978), but the Arctic Monkeys refer to it in "When the Sun Goes Down," Flight of The Conchords parody it in "You Don't Have to Be a Prostitute," and "Tango de Roxanne" from Moulin Rouge is about a prostitute.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:25 PM on September 1, 2009 [1 favorite]

The song is a big one, and eventually people will hear it. Also, it's about a hooker, and I would rule out any name for my daughter with that association at large.
posted by cmgonzalez at 12:25 PM on September 1, 2009

It's a stereotypical whore's name in much of Europe, as Roxanna or Roxanne.
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 12:29 PM on September 1, 2009 [6 favorites]

The thing that I always think of, about names, is The Simpsons episode where they're trying to think of a name for their son, and they keep discarding names, they go through them one by one and reject them, like "we can't call him Danny--they'll call him Danny Fanny" and so on, and then they go, "How about Bart? Nothing rhymes with Bart!"

"That's Os-wee-pay!"
posted by dlugoczaj at 12:33 PM on September 1, 2009

My mid-twenties sister is named Roxanne and she seems to get by just fine.

She will, undoubtedly, have people sing her name constantly.

That song is already seriously freaking old, and it's going to be even more old by the time your daughter is an adult. If you like the name, just go for it.
posted by trunk muffins at 1:18 PM on September 1, 2009

I think you pick a name you like and go with it. I see nothing wrong with Roxanne as a name. I rather like it, and I did have The Police song pop in my head upon reading it. But so what? It's a passing thought, and I have no doubt that she'll distinguish herself from that song pretty quickly.

Besides, if you were here saying you wanted to name your kid "Sarah" a lot of people would pop up and say that there are already sooooooo many people with the name Sarah in the world and do you really want to do that to your child and do you really always want someone to have to ask if it's "Sara/h with or without an 'h'?" and my name's Sarah and there were three other Sarahs in my class and etc.

There's no "perfect" name out there. There are just names that fit and when you meet her, you'll know if she's a Roxanne.
posted by zizzle at 1:28 PM on September 1, 2009

I knew someone named Roxanne and her nickname was Rocky. I thought that was kind of cool.
posted by cazoo at 1:29 PM on September 1, 2009

Lovely, lovely name. I think of Daryl Hannah, not Sting, so there.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:33 PM on September 1, 2009

I love it. Go for it.
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 1:35 PM on September 1, 2009

I thought of Alexander the Great's wife first, too, felix betachat. Then again, I am a history dork.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 1:48 PM on September 1, 2009

You should do what you want. I don't like the name and vetoed it as soon as my wife brought it up. It just brings forth images of crusty old ex-prostitutes to me; sorry but that's the truth. But.. I wouldn't treat anyone different for having whatever name and if I actually knew a Roxanne who was nice, I'd probably change my mind. So, yeah, do what you want and make her a nice human being :)
posted by wackybrit at 2:09 PM on September 1, 2009

Again: these baby name questions are pointless if we don't know the last name.

Roxanne is fine if your last name is common and "pure vanilla"- like Brown or Jones.
posted by Zambrano at 2:12 PM on September 1, 2009

Yeah, it is most famous as the name of a whore. In a great song. But still.

I am 23 and definitely associate it with that. Don't know what her peers will.

Of course, that doesn't have to stop you, but it does have that association.
posted by kathrineg at 2:19 PM on September 1, 2009

Besides, if you were here saying you wanted to name your kid "Sarah" a lot of people would pop up and say that there are already sooooooo many people with the name Sarah in the world and do you really want to do that to your child and do you really always want someone to have to ask if it's "Sara/h with or without an 'h'?" and my name's Sarah and there were three other Sarahs in my class and etc.

Not to mention the week we read Sarah Plain and Tall when were talking about Western expansion in elementary school, and I was teased relentlessly until they moved on to another target.

Seriously, every single (girl's) name has some negative connotation. At least with "Roxanne" she's not gonna be teased about it until she's a little bit older.
posted by muddgirl at 2:32 PM on September 1, 2009

Yes. Name her Roxanne. She can use the full name, or Roxy, or Rox. I knew a waitress who went by Rox, and she was great.

As far a songs and references, there is no telling what will pop up in the popular culture within the next 5 or 10 years. Friends named their girl "Ariel," and Disney put out The Little Mermaid a few months later.
posted by Midnight Skulker at 2:41 PM on September 1, 2009

I like it.
posted by donajo at 3:58 PM on September 1, 2009

My middle name is Anne, and one time when I was about 16 my dad told me he'd thought of going with Roxanne instead, but had decided against it. He may actually have been joking, but whatever. I spent the next several years wishing that he had named me Roxanne, and daydreaming about going by Roxanne instead of my extremely common first and middle names. I even used the name as an internet handle at one point. I thought it was SO COOL. Still do.
posted by showbiz_liz at 4:00 PM on September 1, 2009

I agree with many others that the song blares through my head when I hear the name. I would go with Roxanna or Roxana to minimize the association, and to modernize it a bit. Roxanne seems to be of the same era as Roseanne, another name showing its age.
posted by lockestockbarrel at 4:08 PM on September 1, 2009

'True, the Police's "Roxanne" is over 30 years old (1978), but the Arctic Monkeys refer to it in "When the Sun Goes Down," Flight of The Conchords parody it in "You Don't Have to Be a Prostitute," and "Tango de Roxanne" from Moulin Rouge is about a prostitute.'

Not only that, but I believe it is one of the tracks you can download for the Rock Band video game, and it is included with the Wii version of Rock Band. So there are plenty of kids who have been newly exposed to it via the game.

The Police song is the most obvious thing I think of when I hear the name Roxanne, but the second thing that came to mind is the character in Pudd'nhead Wilson.
posted by litlnemo at 4:26 PM on September 1, 2009

I don't think the Police song will be an issue. I have a daughter named Lydia and people over 30 all sang "Lydia the Tattoo'd Lady" song when they first heard it but none of her peers have that association at all. To your daughter's peers Sting will be an obscure dead guy, eventually.

I know a Roxy and she is a fine person, too.
posted by readery at 4:27 PM on September 1, 2009

My ex was named Roxann (no 'e', or she'd kill you). She had to hear people sing her name all the time and hated it, but liked her name.
posted by beerbajay at 5:10 PM on September 1, 2009

Oh, and I dislike the name "Pam" because of "Polythene Pam" too, but I bet you won't hear of anyone using that as a rationale against the name (there are tons of people called Pam/Pamela in my experience).
posted by wackybrit at 6:31 PM on September 1, 2009

People are still going to know the Police song in 20-30 years. It's a classic and still gets a lot of airplay on "classic rock" stations (not "oldies" stations).

nthing Roxanna. It's a cool name and close enough to Roxanne.
posted by kenliu at 7:05 PM on September 1, 2009

Seriously, every single (girl's) name has some negative connotation.

I can't really think of any negative connotations of my name in culture. I wouldn't go as far as that broad generalization, in other words. Some names just really have defined negative associations, like Roxanne.
posted by cmgonzalez at 7:51 PM on September 1, 2009

Roxanne Shante, she of the Roxanne Wars, PWNED Warner Bros by enforcing a clause of her contract that required them to pay for her education.

Now she has a PhD from Cornell.
posted by rdc at 8:56 PM on September 1, 2009

Here's the first person who comes to my mind when I hear the name (although she spells it without an "e"). Good actress, even better director. I like the name.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:40 PM on September 1, 2009

In 20 years, there will probably be popular songs, infamous criminals, sports stars, movies, and sitcom characters that have the same names which are popular today.

Mackenzie will be an embarrassing movie character, Skyler will be in a song about how someone was done wrong and dumped, Catlin will be an ill-behaved celebrity.

By the time she's old enough to care about it, there will be different associations for any name you choose, and there's little control you can have over this.

Also, it is impossible to give a child a name which will be immune to schoolyard teasing.
posted by yohko at 10:52 PM on September 1, 2009

Lesson from this thread: Never, ever tell anyone what you're going to name your child until you do it. When you're just planning on it, even if you feel pretty sure, people will feel free to say they hate it. Once you've done it, no one will.
posted by palliser at 6:24 AM on September 2, 2009 [1 favorite]

I love it. I think the nickname Rox or Roxy is great - fun and edgy and flirty and feminine. And the full name sounds beautiful too.
posted by KateHasQuestions at 6:57 AM on September 2, 2009

I named my daughters "Georgia" and "Maggie May", so I may be biased here, but I say go with Roxanne.

(Oh, if only my wife would let me name our new baby Clementine!)
posted by ColdChef at 7:32 AM on September 2, 2009

Also: in the Rod Stewart song, "Maggie May" is an old whore. But I don't see that as a detractor, but as a bonus.
posted by ColdChef at 7:36 AM on September 2, 2009

And so Roxanne Shante's birth name is "Lolita?"

Talk about dodging a bullet.
posted by dlugoczaj at 8:35 AM on September 2, 2009

Cool name. The negative song association isn't enough to take away from it. There's always a chance someone famous will come along with her name and they'll associate her name more with them anyways.
posted by haveanicesummer at 8:55 AM on September 2, 2009 [1 favorite]

It's like the writers from Slate were reading this thread. Turns out that the projects-to-PhD story of Roxanne Shante isn't true.
posted by kookaburra at 11:40 AM on September 2, 2009

Just came back to report that Slate debunking of the Shante story. Guess some things are too good to be true :(
posted by rdc at 9:38 PM on September 2, 2009

I dont think you should not name your child Roxanne because of the song, that's just silly.
Do you know how many names are also the names of hookers?


The name you choose will probably never be exclusive, I grew up the only one with my name for miles, but now there are some real scumbags that share it. If only my mum had been able to see the future.
posted by Palerale at 7:54 AM on September 4, 2009