Message: "WDYTO Saffira?" - Behind the Name

WDYTO Saffira?

by Korinna

8/7/2015, 8:29 PM

My SO is Christian Pakistani, and we're not too serious atm, but I've just been trying to think about sophisticated girls' names that would work in both our cultures (I'm Christian American). I'm thinking about Saffira, which is the Latin spelling of the Biblical Sapphira to avoid any pronunciation confusion. It's a little unusual, but I figure people here would just assume it's Pakistani with her last name, and Pakistanis may just assume it's some variant of the Arabic names Saffiya or Firrah, which it resembles. I like Fira as an occasional nickname.

So WDYTO of Saffira?
WDYTO of her as a sibling to Nora Aliza and Talia Nikita--my other current favorites?
And do you have any middle name suggestions? I haven't come up with any yet.

Thanks.

#Saffira

This message was edited 8/7/2015, 8:29 PM

Replies

- Fiammetta (lady murasaki) +1

8/9/2015, 3:52 AM

I like the spelling Sapphira better. Not a name I'd use but it's nice. Not sure how well it works with Nora though, they seem too similar sounding to call "Nora! Saffira!" around the house.

- Korinna

8/9/2015, 8:15 AM

That's a good point, I should test out names usability by imagining yelling them around the house :). I don't think they sound too similar though. Saffira will be pronounced suh-FEER-uh, and I can always call her Fira or Saf at times if it's too much of a mouthful. Fira's also a Pakistani name I like (Firrah).

- faelsean +1

8/8/2015, 10:17 PM

I like it, and it goes nicely with Nora and Talia.

Just curious: how would you be pronouncing it? I live in the US (northeast) and always heard the Biblical Sapphira pronounced like suh-FIE-ruh rather than suh-FEER-uh or similar. If I saw Sapphira or Saffira on someone I would think they were pronounced suh-FEER-uh. Either pronunciation is nice though.

P.S. I have a friend who named her daughter Sofija (pron. so-FIE-uh) and similarly attempted to use spelling to reflect the pronunciation. It could still be read like Sofia, but at least it looks more like its pronunciation than that would. Good luck!

- Korinna

8/9/2015, 8:10 AM

Huh I thought the suh-FEER-a spelling was the correct one, but I don't know any Sapphira's in real life. I'm sure many people would try to pronounce it like you said. That's why I thought Saffira would better reflect the pronunciation I want (suh-FEER-uh). That and the double P could be confusing to some people. Glad you like them :)

- number1212

8/8/2015, 7:50 PM

I like Saffira but I like Sapphira better. It is one of my favorite names. I don't think it goes well with Nora because Nora sounds like an old lady name to me (no offense) but it works with Talia.

- Feorsteorra +1

8/8/2015, 12:21 AM

I like Saffira, and I think I actually prefer that spelling to Sapphira. :) Fira's also a cute nn.

I think Saffira fits much better with Talia than it does with Nora, since Nora feels very sort of old and British (like someone from a Charles Dickens novel, though I honestly don't know if he ever really used this name) to me while Saffira and Talia feel far more exciting and exotic.

Possible Saffira combos:

Saffira Grace
Saffira Helen
Saffira Miriam
Saffira Ariadne
Saffira Josephine
Saffira Claire
Saffira Caroline
Saffira Joy
Saffira Wren
Saffira Briseis
Saffira Christobel
Saffira Juliet
Saffira Gwendolyn
Saffira Ruth

- Korinna

8/8/2015, 5:56 AM

Thanks for the input! I get where you're coming from with Nora, but it's also an Arabic and Aramaic name, so I think it can also feel quite "exotic."

Nice combos too. They've got the wheels turning. :)

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