Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, we discuss reader’s name questions, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays. We’re relying on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight! To have your question considered, email appmtn (at) gmail. Looking for your own private #namehelp post? Order one here.
KEEPING A FAMILY PATTERN GOING
Sarah writes:
My husband is Alex and my middle name is Ximena. When our son was born we agreed on Xavier, so he’d share the letter X with both of us.
If we had a second boy, we’d planned to call him Maxwell, Max for short.
Instead we’re having a girl, and I’m over the moon about it! But finding a name for her feels hard.
Maxine/Max is out because on the chance we have a third child in the future, I would probably want that to be his name still. (And if we had a third and it was a girl, then maybe we’d consider Maxine.)
We had also talked about Lennox for a boy, but I don’t think I like it that much for a boy, and I really don’t love it for a girl. Plus we’d probably call her Lennie, so I’m not sure it really fits anyway.
Naming her Alexandra after her dad has come up, but I don’t want two Alexes, Lexie doesn’t really appeal to me, and Alexa is ruined by the device.
I don’t really like Xyla/Xylie/Xenia, and it feels like two names starting with X is overkill.
We are strongly considering Roxy but Roxanne feels sort of 80s to me. Is Roxy/Roxie enough of a name on its own?
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
NAMING XAVIER’S SISTER
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new daughter!
I think there are actually a few questions here:
- Does the name Roxy/Roxie stand on its own?
- Are there names besides Roxanne that shorten to Roxy/Roxie?
- Are there other names including the letter X you should consider for Xavier’s sister?
- Is it important that the given name contain the letter X? Or that your daughter’s daily use name include the letter X? (After all, you’re Sarah Ximena … but that X isn’t obvious to most people you know, right?)
We can help with the first three questions. The last one is for you and your husband. I don’t think there’s a wrong answer but I do think that requiring your child’s daily use name to include the letter X is the higher bar. And that could (potentially) make it even more difficult to name a future third child.
Let’s get to work on those questions.
Does Roxy/Roxie need a formal name?
I don’t think so, at least not for a child born in 2026. That’s because nicknames-as-formal-names have become very common place. Girls are called Sadie, Millie, and Ellie. Boys answer to Charlie and Theo. We really do appreciate short, casual names in a way that might not have been true even 20 years ago. Roxy/Roxie would fit right in with her generation.
In terms of spelling?
- In 2024, 50 girls were named Roxy. That’s pretty steady over the last five years or so, but in general, the name is decreasing in use.
- 48 girls were named Roxie in 2024. That’s a slight increase in recent years, and the trendline looks like it favors Roxie as a stand-alone name.
That said, neither name is even a little bit common – so either spelling could work well.
MORE GIRL NAMES INCLUDING X
BEATRIX
Another spelling for Beatrice, one that could lead to sparky nickname Trixie.
LUX
The Latin word for light, pronounced like Lukes.
MARGAUX
Margot with a fancified spelling. A silent X to be sure, and possibly a spelling challenge.
XOE
Would Zoe with an X appeal, or is this just another in the Xyla/Xylie category?
FORMAL NAMES FOR ROXY
RAQUEL, ROCHELLE
Two old school ways to get to the nickname.
ROSE, ROSANNA
Most Rose names shorten to Rosie, but Roxie works, too.
ROXELANA
Lots of Rox- elaborations have been used in small numbers, like Roxette and Roxia. But Roxelana is straight out of the history books, a 16th century sultana.
VERONICA
This might be a stretch, but offbeat classic Veronica feels like the ROC sound is there.
Overall, I’m really drawn to one idea in particular: Rose Ximena. Your daughter could share your middle name and she’s Rose X. It makes Roxie a fun, easy nickname option.
If not Rose Ximena, I really do like the idea of Beatrix called Trixie. Xavier and Beatrix sound like siblings, and Xavier and Trixie are just plain fun to say together. Trixie feels like a good substitute for Roxie, but maybe a little less daring.
Would you consider Maxima (like the Queen of the Netherlands – originally from Argentina)?
Xavier & Maxima …that might eliminate Maxwell for a boy, but there seem to be more boy names with “x” in them…like Felix…
Or…this is a favorite of mine, but certainly quite over-the-top…Maximiliana…I think it is gorgeous!
Xavier & Maximiliana! : )
Best wishes!!
Also…Maximiliana could go by “Millie,” so not necessarily the “Max” nickname. This name is definitely a guilty pleasure of mine & perhaps it will work for your little girl!
Without looking at the suggestions:
Axelle
Baxter
Beatrix (though Beatriz might be the more natural option if you have a Latina background)
Calixta
Nixie
Nyx
Pax
Paxton
Roxana
Saxon
Trixie
Ximena (name her after yourself)
I like Xavier and Alexandra, nicknamed Xandie.
I also like Xavier and Margaux. There is also Xara, Xanthe, Xantha and Bijoux.
Ok, this feels weird but I’m going to throw my name* out there for consideration: Xena. I can say in practice it wears well, easy to say, and it always gets a positive reaction. The only downside is the Warrior Princess gets brought up frequently, but that has died down as I’ve gotten older.
*I spell mine with a Z, but in practice it sounds the same.
I agree with Abby on using mom’s middle name for this baby. And Rose Ximena called Roxie is adorable!
I think I would make Ximena the first after the mother’s middle. A nice name, a family name.
I love patterns. It’s a neat one you’ve found. But, I think you also need to love the name. She’ll only spend a small portion of her life as part of your daily family. Send her out into the world with a name you love, not just one that fits.
That said, if you love Roxy, I love it for you. And it sure does fit with names these days. I also really like Abby’s suggestion of Beatrix. That feels like the one to beat, as it has so many nickname options of all styles (Bea, Bix, Trixie.)
How would you feel about Calixta? It leads to sweet Callie.
Or how would you feel about giving her your middle name as the pattern? Choose a name you just love up front, middle name Ximena. Or another X name – Xiomara for example? Or or.. I love this… could you name her Simone for a variant of your middle name, which also carries your initial? I really love that, and that could be your special pattern with her. Also if there might be a future sister, maybe an SX would be easier.
Boy names are so much easier for Xs. Max is a great future brother name, as is Felix, Jax, Devereaux, Maddox, Knox, Paxton…
Love Xavier and Beatrix so much!!! Potential for Maxwell / Maxine or even Hendrix in the future.