The name Roxana has its roots in the Persian language and culture, originating from the ancient Persian name "Roshanak" which translates to "little star" or "bright". It is believed to have first emerged around the 6th century BCE during the Achaemenid Persian Empire.

The earliest recorded use of the name Roxana is found in ancient Greek texts, where it was spelled as "Rōxánē". This was the name of the wife of Alexander the Great, the renowned Macedonian king who conquered the Persian Empire in the 4th century BCE. Roxana was a Bactrian princess whom Alexander married in 327 BCE, solidifying his control over the eastern territories.

In ancient Greek mythology, Roxana was also the name of a Persian princess who was the daughter of the king Darius III and wife of Alexander the Great. This Roxana was renowned for her beauty and intelligence, and played a significant role in the political intrigues of the time.

Throughout history, the name Roxana has been associated with several notable figures. One of the earliest was Roxana of Persia, the wife of Alexander the Great, who lived from around 340 BCE to 311 BCE. Another famous Roxana was Roxana Terapeut, a Polish noblewoman and writer who lived from 1608 to 1688.

In literature, the name Roxana appears in the 18th-century novel "Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress" by Daniel Defoe, published in 1724. The novel's protagonist, Roxana, is a woman who endures many hardships and adventures throughout her life.

Other notable Roxanas include Roxana Caballero (born 1967), a Colombian actress and model, and Roxana Saberi (born 1977), an Iranian-American journalist who was briefly imprisoned in Iran in 2009.

Overall, the name Roxana has a rich and diverse history, spanning across cultures and centuries, with its origins rooted in the ancient Persian language and its associations with figures of historical significance, literature, and the arts.