Shiphrah Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SHIF-rah //ˈʃɪf.rə//
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: beautiful; fair
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Shiphrah has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the word שִׁפְרָה (Shiphrah), which is often interpreted to mean "beautiful" or "to be beautiful." This name appears in the biblical context, specifically in the Book of Exodus, where Shiphrah is one of the Hebrew midwives who defied Pharaoh's orders to kill newborn Hebrew boys. The narrative surrounding Shiphrah is significant, as it highlights themes of courage, resistance, and the preservation of life during a time of oppression, thus embedding the name with historical and cultural weight.
Shiphrah's mention in the biblical text dates back to the 13th century BCE, during the period of the Israelite enslavement in Egypt. The midwives, including Shiphrah and her counterpart Puah, are commended for their actions, which ultimately led to God's favor upon them.
This story is often cited in discussions of women's roles in biblical narratives and has been referenced in various religious and scholarly texts throughout the centuries, including the Septuagint and the King James Bible in the early 17th century. Culturally, the name Shiphrah resonates with themes of strength and resilience.
It symbolizes the fight against tyranny and the importance of moral integrity, particularly in the face of adversity. The name has been preserved in Jewish tradition and is sometimes associated with the broader narrative of women's contributions to the survival and continuity of the Hebrew people.
While diminutive forms or variations of the name may exist, Shiphrah itself remains a powerful symbol of beauty intertwined with bravery, reflecting the enduring legacy of its biblical roots.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Shiphrah, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Shiphrah was first seen in the United States in 2010.
Shiphrah has ranked as high as #1354 nationally, which occurred in 2021, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Shiphrah has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Shiphrah is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Shiphrah was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Shiphrah
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
No state data available for this year.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Shiphrah.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2010 | 5 |