Fun Facts About the Name Sefora
- 288 babies named Sefora: U.S. records list 288 babies given the name Sefora from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Sefora Mean?
Sefora is a form of the biblical Hebrew name צִפּוֹרָה (Tzipporah), borne in the Hebrew Bible by the wife of Moses. It comes from the Hebrew noun צִפּוֹר (tzipor), meaning "bird," so the literal sense of the name is simply "bird." The feminine ending -ah gives the name a feminine form; the familiar gloss "little bird" is a customary reading rather than a strict translation of the Hebrew word.
The form Sefora reaches European languages through Greek and Latin. The Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, writes the name Σεπφώρα (Sepphōra), and the Latin Vulgate has Sephora. The Latin spelling lost the doubled consonant of the Greek, and from that Latin form come Italian Sefora and Spanish Séfora. The same name appears as Zípora in Portuguese and Cypora in Polish, while the Hebrew Tzipporah remained in use in Jewish communities and was revived in modern Israel. Despite the similar sound, Sefora is not related to Sophia, which comes from the Greek word for "wisdom," or to Sapphira.
Sefora Name History & Origins
The earliest documented form of the name is the Hebrew צִפּוֹרָה (Tzipporah) in the book of Exodus. There she is a daughter of Reuel, also called Jethro, the priest of Midian; Moses marries her during his years in Midian, and she appears again in the account of the circumcision of their son on the road back to Egypt (Exodus 4:24 - 26). The name belongs to the Hebrew Bible rather than to a later saint's legend or a literary invention.
When the Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek, the name took the form Σεπφώρα (Sepphōra), and the Latin Vulgate rendered it Sephora. These biblical forms are the source of the European versions: Italian Sefora, Spanish Séfora, Portuguese Zípora, and Polish Cypora, used among Christian and Jewish communities in those language areas. The Hebrew Tzipporah continued in Jewish use and became a common name again in modern Israel. The spelling Sephora is also used today by an international cosmetics retailer, but that is a modern commercial use of an older biblical name, not the origin of it.
How Popular is the Name Sefora?
Sefora has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #5,882 in 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,882 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 2024 | #6,860 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 2023 | #7,579 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2022 | #6,935 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2021 | #6,642 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2020 | #10,953 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #9,639 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2018 | #9,064 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2017 | #9,259 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2016 | #9,335 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #7,218 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2014 | #10,049 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2013 | #11,824 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #11,121 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #10,282 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2009 | #13,481 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #12,421 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2007 | #13,712 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #12,253 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2004 | #12,548 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #15,415 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #13,217 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #12,892 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #16,426 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #13,099 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #10,375 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #14,777 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Sefora Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Sefora's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Sefora's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.