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SciFi is a contraction of Science Fiction. It was coined by Forrest J. Ackerman, a long time fan and owner of the world's largest collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy materials. He derived it from
Scientifiction, a term invented by Hugo Gernsbach to describe the material he published in his pulp magazines Amazing Stories and Thrilling Wonder Stories. Science Fiction had been published in other pulps before Gernsbach began his publications. Gernsbach was the first to publish magazines that specialized in it, and gave the genre a name.
Serious science fiction fans prefer the contraction "SF", and some more literary minded folks think the full title should be "Speculative Fiction". SF author and noted anthologist Judith Merrill once proposed that SF might stand for "Space Fish".
Whether it should be called SciFi or SF is a Holy War in science fiction circles.