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Aphra

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Aphra comes a Hebrew name meaning “Dust,” or “Doe.”
-or-
In some cases, Aphra can come from a Latin nickname, Afra, meaning “Dark.”
-0r-
Aphra is also used as an Anglicization of the Gaelic name Oighrig (or Aithbhreac, or Eithrig) which means “Speckled One.”

History:
Aphra became a name used occasionally by 17th century English Puritans and their descendants. It was coined when they misread Biblical verse Micah 1-10 in the King James Bible (“in the house of Aphrah roll thyself in the dust”). Many Puritan parents took Aphrah to be a personal name, rather than a word meaning “dust.”

Pronunciation: aff-rah.

Alternates: Afra, Affery, Affrey, Ayfara.

See also: Afra.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Aphra Behn (1640-1689)
British dramatist.

Fictional Characters:
Affery Flintwinch
From Charles Dickens’ Little Dorrit.


Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
less than 0.001 % named Affery, Aphra, Afra, etc.

Popularity of Affery, Aphra, etc.:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-2000: N/A

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