What is Roxy Named After?

Hey friend, let‘s dive deep into the origins and history behind the name Roxy! As a tech and data geek who loves music, fashion, and pop culture, I‘m fascinated by how this spunky name reflects many cultural trends over the past 50 years. There‘s a lot more to Roxy‘s story than you might realize at first glance.

Roxy has its roots in several sources, giving it a cool mix of different meanings and associations:

1. Roxy as a Nickname for Roxanne

The most common origin of Roxy is as a shortened form of the name Roxanne. Roxanne is a feminine name derived from the ancient Persian name Roxana, meaning "dawn" or "bright."

Roxanne dates back to Ancient Greece in the 4th century BCE, when Roxana was the wife of Alexander the Great. The name declined after Greece but later returned to popularity in Europe in the Middle Ages.

Roxanne emigrated from France to England in the 12th century. By the 17th century it was commonly shortened to Roxy. This nickname-name really took off in the English-speaking world in the 20th century.

2. Ties to Roxy Music

The English rock band Roxy Music undoubtedly gave the name Roxy a cool boost starting in the 1970s.

Formed in 1970, Roxy Music pioneered an experimental glam rock sound. Their top hits included "Love is the Drug", "More Than This", and "Dance Away."

Roxy Music‘s avant-garde aesthetic and edgy sound made them hugely influential. They paved the way for punk, new wave, and alternative rock.

The band‘s name itself was inspired by old American cinemas called "roxy theatres", giving it a retro vibe.

3. The Roxy Nightclub in LA

In the same time period, LA‘s iconic Roxy nightclub on the Sunset Strip opened in 1973. This venue hosted early gigs by punk bands like The Ramones and The Runaways.

The Roxy became central to the LA punk rock scene in the 1970s and 80s. Its rebellious vibe definitely appealed to parents naming their babies during that era.

4. Roxy as a Name in Its Own Right

While it started as a nickname, Roxy also evolved into a given name in its own right by the 1960s. On its own, Roxy has two unique meanings:

• From the Latin "roxa", meaning "reddish hair". This associates Roxy with other red-related names like Rusty, Rowan, and Russell.

• From the Ancient Greek "rox", meaning "rock". So Roxy can also mean "rocky" – linking it to rock-inspired names like Peter, Rocky, and Petra.

5. Roxy Brand Link

There‘s also a strong connection between Roxy and the surf/ski brand Roxy, founded in 1990.

Roxy was launched as the sister brand of Quiksilver, targeting female athletes. The name was chosen since the daughters of both the Quiksilver founder and CEO were called Roxy.

With its clothes and trademark heart logo, Roxy came to represent a fun, adventurous lifestyle for girls in the 1990s.

Roxy has been a popular name choice for cool female characters in movies, musicals, books, and more over the past few decades:

1970s – 80s

• Roxy Carmichael – Rebel teen in the 1988 movie “Welcome to Roxy Carmichael”

• Roxy Robinson – Sax player in the band Mother‘s Finest formed in the 1970s

1980s – 90s

• Roxy Hart – Protagonist in the hit musical Chicago (1975) and its 2002 film adaptation

• Roxy Richter – Evil ex-girlfriend in the comic/movie Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

1990s – 2000s

• Roxy – Glamorous fish character in the Pixar movie Finding Nemo (2003)

• Roxy Hastings – Surfer girl in the Australian TV show Blue Water High (2005-08)

2000s – Today

• Roxy Sloan – Bold college student on the TV show Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015-)

• Roxy – Feisty racing car driver in the animated kids show Turbo FAST (2013-16)

You can see how Roxy consistently represents brave, unconventional female characters.

Let‘s take a closer look at how the Roxy brand influenced the name‘s popularity from the 90s onward:

1990

• Roxy is founded as a swimwear line by Quiksilver

1991

• Roxy expands into sportswear, selling over $1 million in the first year

1993

• The Roxy logo debuts – two Quiksilver logos forming a heart shape

1990s

• Roxy sponsors female surfers like Lisa Anderson and lays groundwork to join the Olympic Games

2000s

• Roxy snowboarders dominate the 2002 Olympics

• Roxy expands globally, including a special line for Japanese youth culture

2010s

• Roxy continues promoting top female athletes worldwide

• Focus shifts to eco-friendly manufacturing practices

It‘s easy to see how Roxy‘s fun, adventurous branding appealed to parents naming their daughters in the 90s and 2000s.

The name jumped 539 spots in popularity in the 1990s, likely influenced by Roxy‘s cultural impact. By 2001 it hit #466 nationwide for baby girl names.

Tracking the name over decades shows how these influences impacted its use:

You can see how Roxy peaked in usage in the 80s and 90s. While it‘s less common today, it still ranked #2027 for girls in 2021, ahead of lots of more conventional names. Clearly this spunky name continues to delight parents looking for something bold and artistic.

In summary:

Roxy is a multi-faceted name with diverse pop culture ties and meanings of "dawn" or "rocky." Its punk rock energy from the 70s and beachy, adventurous vibe from the 90s still give it a bright, vivacious image. Which aspect most resonates with you? For me, Roxy brings to mind a fearless, fun-loving girl ready to take on the world. Hopefully this history gives you inspiration in choosing this special name. Let me know if you need any other baby name insights!