Shifra

A girl's name of Hebrew origin with 1,646 recorded U.S. births.

Girl's name#3486 in 2024Rising fast

Meaning & Origin

When Shifra hit its peak of 58 births in 2017, social media, global pop culture, and a growing appetite for unique names were reshaping how American parents chose names.

Shifra has carried that momentum forward and remains a live choice today.

In the most recent SSA release, Shifra ranks #3486 among U.S. girl names — distinctive enough to stand out.

Shifra is a girl's baby name of Hebrew origin, from the Hebrew shifra meaning 'beautiful' or 'good, pleasing' — the name of one of the two heroic midwives in Exodus (Shifra and Puah) who defied Pharaoh's order to kill Hebrew newborns.

Shifra is a name of extraordinary moral courage — a woman who risked death to save lives. Used in traditional Jewish communities, it's a name that carries feminist heroism from one of the Bible's most quietly powerful stories. Rare, meaningful, and deeply rooted.

EtymologyShow more

Shifra is built from 6 letters and two syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the Hebrew naming tradition, this length is typical of names that preserve their full historical form, carrying their etymology on the surface.

The interplay of consonants and vowels in Shifra creates its characteristic open, warm quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.

At a Glance

1,646

Total births

Since 1930

2017

Peak

58 births

1930

First recorded

95 years of data

Compare Shifra with another name

Popularity Over Time

Shifra has 64+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1930.

First appeared: 1930Peak: 2017 (58 births)Current: #3486

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Shifra
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	222	#3567	▼
2010s	425	#3751	▲
2000s	361	#4019	▲
1990s	248	#4465	▲
1980s	207	#4200	▲
1970s	123	#5260	▲
1960s	33	#6614	▲
1950s	17	#4380	▲
1940s	5	#5605	—
1930s	5	#5160	—

The Story of Shifra

A Gen Alpha name

Peaking in 2017, Shifra is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Shifra are most likely born between 2007 and 2024.

How rare is Shifra?

Only about 1 in every 80,000 babies born in 2024 was named Shifra — a truly uncommon choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1930, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 425 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.

Shifra by the numbers

Would fill 34 school buses
Meeting one Shifra per day would take 4.5 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(64 years, 1930–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Shifra
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	45	#3486	-5 (-10.0%)
2023	50	#3262	+2 (4.2%)
2022	48	#3357	+1 (2.1%)
2021	47	#3381	+15 (46.9%)
2020	32	#4347	-13 (-28.9%)
2019	45	#3497	-4 (-8.2%)
2018	49	#3284	-9 (-15.5%)
2017	58	#2899	+17 (41.5%)
2016	41	#3768	+10 (32.3%)
2015	31	#4574	-10 (-24.4%)
2014	41	#3770	+4 (10.8%)
2013	37	#4071	-10 (-21.3%)
2012	47	#3458	+3 (6.8%)
2011	44	#3596	+12 (37.5%)
2010	32	#4590	-5 (-13.5%)
2009	37	#4181	+1 (2.8%)
2008	36	#4347	-8 (-18.2%)
2007	44	#3713	+11 (33.3%)
2006	33	#4448	-8 (-19.5%)
2005	41	#3637	-1 (-2.4%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shifra a boy's or girl's name?

Shifra is primarily a girl's name.

When was Shifra most popular?

Shifra reached its peak popularity in 2017 with 58 births that year. It is currently ranked #3486 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Shifra?

Shifra is currently ranked #3486 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 1,646 babies since 1930.

Explore More

By Length6-letter names By OriginHebrew names By EndingNames in -a TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1930–2024