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 [name]Safire[/name] 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. [name]Just[/name] 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 [name]Ruby[/name], [name]Lapis[/name], or [name]Jade[/name] might be nice. If it is the look and sound, other choices like [name]Sabine[/name], [name]Salome[/name], [name]Selene[/name], [name]Simone[/name], [name]Suzette[/name], or [name]Sylvie[/name] might be nice. Then, names like [name]Scarlett[/name], [name]Azure[/name], [name]Ginger[/name], [name]Iris[/name], and [name]Hazel[/name] are also in the same style, but more classy in my opinion.
I happen to like [name]Sapphire[/name] myself (I like lots of gem names) and I don’t really understand why [name]Sapphire[/name] seems to be less acceptable than [name]Ruby[/name], [name]Opal[/name], [name]Jade[/name],[name]Amethyst[/name],[name]Coral[/name], 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 [name]Sapphire[/name] feels so dramatic to me (for some reason it reminds me of a [name]Bond[/name] 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.
[name]Do[/name] you like [name]Seraphine[/name] or [name]Seraphina[/name]? (Because of the S and ph, these names came to mind.)
Good luck! 
The “[name]Safire[/name]” spelling doesn’t help [name]IMO[/name]. 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? [name]Just[/name] curious.
A name that made it on my short list a while back is [name]Saphira[/name]. It has the same meaning as [name]Sapphire[/name], 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 [name]Sapphire[/name], if you think it is too “stripperish” for you.
When I see [name]Safire[/name], I don’t think “misspelling of [name]Sapphire[/name]” – I think of [name]William[/name] [name]Safire[/name]. 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. [name]Even[/name] though it might be pretty, I wouldn’t want any negative feelings or thoughts towards any name for my daughter.
What about [name]Safia[/name]? 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 [name]Safia[/name] route, consider this… from the baby names book I have, [name]Saffi[/name] 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 [name]Sapphire[/name] 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. [name]Bear[/name] 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 [name]Sapphire[/name].
Can’t answer why names like [name]Opal[/name] and [name]Ruby[/name] 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 [name]Diamond[/name] or Citrine?
In [name]Sophie[/name] Kinsella’s latest book “Twenties Girl”, there’s a character there named [name]Diamante[/name]. Seriously… it’s a ridiculous name (I apologize if I offend anyone whose parents might have named you that). I fear, [name]Sapphire[/name] might not be too far behind.
I thought I’d also suggest [name]Saffron[/name].
Good luck!
One time, at a bachelorette party, my friends and I took “stripper” lessons (all very PG13 rated). To get us “uninhibited,” the instructor gave us “stripper names.” She named me [name]Sapphire[/name]. And no, the spelling doesn’t really help; it sounds like the stripper didn’t know how to spell. Plus your daughter will hate you one day if she wants to be the first female president.
[name]Seraphina[/name] is a much better choice.
Wow, we’ve really hit on something here. It’s unfair and it’s inconsistent that names like [name]Ruby[/name], [name]Opal[/name], [name]Jade[/name], and [name]Pearl[/name] are perceived as classier than [name]Sapphire[/name] (I prefer sapphires and like the sound, particularly in the form of [name]Sapphira[/name]) but it’s sadly true because the jewels that were not commonly used as everyday names in the past were prime choices for strippers. Stripper names are pretty much by definition glamorous, fantastic or exotic, which unfortunately makes names with such fun qualities prone to stripper teasing. I was going to defend [name]Sapphire[/name] as a name but then thought, no, because I would roll my eyes and think “stripper name” if I encountered the name [name]Diamond[/name], so I should be consistent. Now to perhaps contradict myself I will mention that I kind of like [name]Emerald[/name] as a name, and why is it that this gem uncommonly used as a name should not sound as suspect to me as [name]Diamond[/name] and [name]Sapphire[/name]? Perhaps because of names like [name]Emily[/name] and [name]Esmeralda[/name]? shrug What can I say–college is getting more and more expensive every year, so maybe the strippers will have the last laugh. 
I hope I haven’t hurt your feelings because I honestly understand the appeal of [name]Sapphire[/name].
I would never ever think of a stripper when I hear the name [name]Sapphire[/name]. It reminds of a beautiful blue ocean on a summer’s day, and a gleaming blue gem, both beautiful images.
Why indeed would [name]Sapphire[/name] not be just as admired as [name]Opal[/name] and [name]Ruby[/name]? In my opinion I think it is [name]WAY[/name] nicer!
BTW I have only ever seen one stripper and she didn’t speak at all let alone introduce herself.
I personally do not like any gem names, ruby, pearl, coral and so on and so on. but sapphire does come acorss very stripperish to me, for first and a middle name. sorry
I don’t think it would a horrible middle name, just not as a first name really:) but i did know a girl named [name]Emerald[/name].
I used to have a donkey called [name]Sapphire[/name] when I was a little girl so that is all I can see! Sorry I don’t have more of an opinion on this topic lol, for what it’s worth though, I couldn’t see this as a first name for a child.
I like the suggestion of [name]Sapphira[/name] but she is a character in the bible wife of [name]Ananias[/name] who is struck dead for not tithing correctly or for lying about their donation.
What about using sapphire in another language? In spanish it is masculine [name]Zafiro[/name].
Another cool option would be [name]Sappho[/name] – after the female ancient Greek poet. I love that name!
But [name]Sappho[/name] is pronounced Sap-foh, the first p is pronounced, the second one blends into the h.