Message: "Siofra or Shifra?"

[Opinions] Siofra or Shifra?

by brilliantblue

4/26/2009, 7:58 AM

Same pronunciation: SHEEF-rah. Siofra is Irish, Shifra is Hebrew. Which do you prefer?

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- Ailis +2

4/26/2009, 8:06 AM

Probably Shifra. Being Irish myself I have always thought of Siofra as a stange name for a person, as it means "changeling". Changelings are usually bad things in stories, aren't they?

- brilliantblue +1

4/26/2009, 10:46 AM

Yeah, that was my thought... I've heard, though, that the name is being used in Ireland now and has been for several years. I take it you've never met a Siofra?

- Ailis

4/27/2009, 8:39 AM

I've never met a Siofra myself, but I have heard of people with the name. It mustn't be that common, and I guess it's only been used in modern-ish times, like Aisling.

- Eden Electra (Jade-Elise1981)

4/26/2009, 8:10 AM

I was just thinking about this yesterday. Both are on my PNL, but I definitely prefer the looks and meaning behind Shifra more.

- Labonne

4/26/2009, 8:17 AM

Shifra. I know they're pronounced the same, but the spelling of Siofra makes me think "see-oh-fra" even though I KNOW it isn't. Just like Siobhan. Gets me every time.

- Jonquil

4/26/2009, 8:19 AM

Shifra, first because its Biblical and therefore more "universal" than Siofra, which to me suits only an Irish surname, and, second, because it's easier to spell.
Having said that, it's not a favourite of mine - I prefer Shira.

- Murasaki (lady murasaki)

4/26/2009, 9:36 AM

I prefer Shifra, it's in my PNL actually. I'm tempted to pronounce Siofra phonetically.

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