Author: Roksana Amelia

My thoughts are stars. I cannot fathom into constellations.

The Fault in Our Stars – John Green

I love the name Roksana and Sana a lot … the meaning suggests something related to stars and then again I love the whole universe a lot too💫

Roksana/رقصنا
r(u)-ksa-na, ruk-sana\ is a variant of Roxanne(Persian), and the meaning, literally is ‘Luminous Beauty’, nd loosely ‘The Dawn’

Sana/سناء/साना
means ‘radiance’ in Arabic. From Hindi origins, Sana means ‘to gleam’ or ‘to shine’✨ The name reminds them to never dim their light. It translates to ‘brilliant’ and ‘praise’ also

However, some call me Ruksana (رقصنا) as pronounced in Arabic language. My family and my few school friends call me by my other nickname from my childhood which I don’t adore much, so I don’t use at all … I prefer introducing myself as ‘Roksana Amelia’ …

‘Sana’ is a cute sweet name that I’ve recently grown to love, and someone said that it’s a cute little name just like me, (that made me happy) and often I wish to keep it as my beloved nickname …

And there my artist name is Roksana Amelia. I took the name Amelia from Amelia Earhart, one of the most famous American pilots. She is the first woman to fly solo and nonstop across the United States, among other accomplishments. One day I watched ‘Amelia’ – a biographical film based on her life, and I was so inspired and during that phase of the Pandemic 2020, I started my painting journey, and I felt it’s something that I really love- and it seems like impossible also. There I found inspiration from the film Amelia, and I snapped it in my mind to use as an artist, So that’s the inspiration behind Roksana Amelia. And I mentioned it in the brochure of my first painting exhibition …

Amelia/ ə-MEE-lee-ə
a name perfectly suited to them who approach life with a desire to do their best

My name carries various meanings for different people. I’ve been told it is beautiful. I’ve come to understand that names carry certain expectations, and with a name like Roksana Amelia, people might anticipate someone both distant and distinct …

What matters most is what my name means to me. It took me years to understand that a name can be both a source of alienation and belonging. Having a unique name as a child often meant trying to fit in while feeling different. I loved the name Roksana a lot, then I remember wishing my nickname were different, a short cute name instead of the nickname that I’ve for years. Though I understand that my family and friends love the ‘me’ behind the name they call me, not just the name itself.

And I’ve been given some cute names by my nieces and nephews. My littlest nephews call me Aunt Amy and other elder nephews call me Shimmer, Shimama, Shimapata😊. My father adorably calls me ‘Ma Shi Ma’. Some call me RA, Rok as well- and I understand that they shorten the name to express their love and care through those names. And I wear Hijab🧕🏻, so I’m sometimes Ninja. In the past, if anyone called me Roksy, I would politely say, “Please, do not call me by that name.” However, I’ve fallen in love with this name, mainly because of the affection I receive when it is used. It’s interesting how a name you once disliked can grow on you due to the way others cherish it. Eventually, it starts to carry a sense of grandeur and significance of its own.

It’s only in my adulthood that I began to understand the significance of my name. I encourage any new people to call me as Roksana. I think I have embraced the meaning of this name quite gracefully, wearing it with pride to honor, celebrate and respect whoever I’m with it …

Tell me, who are you with your name?

Or tell me, if people say, ‘What’s in a name? A name is a name is just a name’, what would you say to them?

#roksanatales