English: It was taught: Shifra is Yocheved — why was she called Shifra? Because she beautified (meshaperes) the newborn. Puah is Miriam — why was she called Puah? Because she cooed (po’ah) to the newborn.
On the daf / in context: See the cited source for the full section.
Type of Learning
Custom — name etymologies from the midwives’ deeds.
What Is Learned
Chazal teach that the very names of the midwives already describe the life-giving care they gave the infants they refused to kill.