Sapphire

I really do not think that i would go with this as a first. Sounds very stripperish to me.
In the middle name spot would Safire be totally terrible? To me it looks less stripperish. Or does it make it look more so because it is a creative spelling? I am generally not a fan of unique spellings but Sapp just looks Sappy to me.

alisonleah wrote:I really do not think that i would go with this as a first. Sounds very stripperish to me.
In the middle name spot would Safire be totally terrible? To me it looks less stripperish. Or does it make it look more so because it is a creative spelling? I am generally not a fan of unique spellings but Sapp just looks Sappy to me.

I think if the name looks stripper-ish for a first name (which, I agree with you, it does) it also looks stripper-ish for a middle name. And, I don't think unique spellings ever help a name. Just my opinion.

What is it that attracted you to this name? The meaning, the look, the sound, the style? Maybe there is a better one out there.

If it is the meaning, other choices like Ruby, Lapis, or Jade might be nice. If it is the look and sound, other choices like Sabine, Salome, Selene, Simone, Suzette, or Sylvie might be nice. Then, names like Scarlett, Azure, Ginger, Iris, and Hazel are also in the same style, but more classy in my opinion.

I happen to like Sapphire myself (I like lots of gem names) and I don't really understand why Sapphire seems to be less acceptable than Ruby, Opal, Jade,Amethyst,Coral, etc. If you really like it as a name though, I think you should use it in the middle with the original spelling since others don't seem to share that viewpoint.

Because Sapphire feels so dramatic to me (for some reason it reminds me of a Bond Girl, but after that, I have to admit that I do think of a stripper), I'd personally keep it in the middle, using the authentic spelling.

Do you like Seraphine or Seraphina? (Because of the S and ph, these names came to mind.)

Good luck! :-)

The "Safire" spelling doesn't help IMO. It even makes it look more like "SUH- fire" rather than sapphire. If you already think it sounds like a stripper name why are you considering it? Just curious.

A name that made it on my short list a while back is Saphira. It has the same meaning as Sapphire, but is a little more "elegant" to my mind. It was cut just because I found names I like more. I still think it is a beautiful alternative to Sapphire, if you think it is too "stripperish" for you.

When I see Safire, I don't think "misspelling of Sapphire" -- I think of William Safire. I'd assume you were a fan of his.

I was scared to come on this thread! I am so glad you said it sounds like a stripper's name b/c that's the first thing I thought when I saw it.
That being said, I don't thinkI would use it as a middle name. Even though it might be pretty, I wouldn't want any negative feelings or thoughts towards any name for my daughter.

What about Safia? Pronounced SAH-fee-a. Sounds like sapphire, but with more class! It's a real name too... at least, it is the real name of the lady who has just moved in next door to me!

If you go the Safia route, consider this... from the baby names book I have, Saffi means "having great wisdom" to the Danish. For me, name aesthetic and meaning is super important because this is first definition of your baby, so to speak (other than gender).

Understand that the stripper-ish connotations for Sapphire are there for a reason... and the majority of the posters here had the same instinct where this name was concerned, so it will most likely be when you introduce your baby to the public in general. Bear in mind, you have pple on this forum who obviously love names and will spend time chewing on their meanings and sounds for you. I believe "outsiders" will take less care with most names, let alone one like Sapphire.

Can't answer why names like Opal and Ruby don't give out the same vibes-- it might be the 2 syllable thing just makes it sound less frivolous for a gemstone name. Thing is, would you name a child Diamond or Citrine?

In Sophie Kinsella's latest book "Twenties Girl", there's a character there named Diamante. Seriously... it's a ridiculous name (I apologize if I offend anyone whose parents might have named you that). I fear, Sapphire might not be too far behind.