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Sikh Names from Gurbani

Sikh names are full of meaning. Many come from words found in Gurbani, such as love, light, victory and God’s praise. Here is how Sikh names are chosen, what Singh and Kaur mean, and how to understand the parts of a name.

At a glance

HukamnamaGives the first letter of a baby’s name
UnisexMost Sikh first names are for boys and girls
SinghMeans “lion”, used by boys and men
KaurMeans “princess”, used by girls and women
1699Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave Singh and Kaur to all

📜 How Sikh names are chosen

At a naming ceremony (Naam Karan), a Hukamnama is taken from Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The first letter of the hymn is the letter the baby’s name will start with.

The family then picks a name that begins with that letter, often a word from Gurbani or a name with a spiritual meaning. The name is announced to the Sangat, and everyone joins in a happy Jaikara.

Many parents look for a name that will remind the child of a good quality, such as love for God, courage or kindness, every time it is said.

🤝 Why most Sikh first names are unisex

Most Sikh first names, such as Harpreet, Jaspreet, Gurdeep or Manjeet, are used for both boys and girls. This fits the Sikh belief that men and women are equal.

It is the second name that usually shows whether someone is a boy or a girl: Singh for boys and men, and Kaur for girls and women. So Harpreet Singh is a boy, and Harpreet Kaur is a girl.

A few names are more often used for one gender, for example names ending in -leen or -noor are more common for girls, but families are free to choose.

🦁 What do Singh and Kaur mean?

Singh means “lion”, a sign of courage. Kaur is usually translated as “princess”, a sign of dignity and royalty.

On Vaisakhi in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh Ji created the Khalsa and gave all Khalsa men the name Singh and all Khalsa women the name Kaur.

In those days, a person’s surname often showed their caste, which decided how they were treated. By giving everyone the same names, the Guru removed caste and made all Sikhs one family. A Kaur also does not need to take her husband’s name — she keeps her own identity.

Today many Sikhs use only Singh or Kaur as their last name, while others also use a family name.

🧩 Common parts of Sikh names and their meanings

Many Sikh names are made by joining two parts, like building blocks. Knowing the parts helps you understand the whole name: for example Har + preet means “love for God”, and Gur + deep means “lamp of the Guru”.

Gur-
Guru, the one who brings light (Gurpreet, Gurdeep, Gurleen).
Har-
God (Harpreet, Harjeet, Harnoor).
Jas-
Praise or glory (Jaspreet, Jaswant, Jasleen).
Man-
Mind or heart (Manpreet, Manjeet, Mandeep).
Prabh-
God, the Master (Prabhjot, Prabhleen).
-preet
Love (Simranpreet, Amanpreet).
-jeet / -jit
Victory, one who wins (Ranjit, Sukhjeet).
-deep
Lamp or light (Navdeep, Jasdeep).
-leen
Absorbed or lost in God (Harleen, Gurleen).
-inder
Lord or king, from the name Indra (Rajinder, Sukhwinder).
-want / -vant
Full of, having (Gunwant: full of virtues).
-noor
Divine light (Jasnoor, Gurnoor).
-jot
Light or flame (Prabhjot, Amanjot).
-bir
Brave (Ranbir, Harbir).

🔎 How to use the name finder

Use the name finder below to explore Sikh names and their meanings. You can choose a first letter (for example the letter from your Hukamnama), filter by boy, girl or unisex names, or search for a meaning such as “light” or “love”.

Each name shows its meaning and how it is written in Gurmukhi. Remember that meanings can vary a little, so it is always a good idea to ask a Granthi or a family elder when choosing a name.

🔎 Find a Sikh name

167 names

Meanings are short, simple explanations of the Gurmukhi words. Many families choose the first letter from the Hukamnama at the Gurdwara, and may ask a Granthi Singh for help.

❓ Questions people ask

How are Sikh baby names chosen?

At a naming ceremony, a Hukamnama is taken from Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The first letter of the hymn is the first letter of the baby’s name, and the family chooses a name starting with that letter.

What are some Sikh baby boy names?

Popular Sikh boy names include Gurpreet Singh, Harjeet Singh, Ranbir Singh, Jaswant Singh and Arjan Singh. Most first names can be used for girls too; Singh shows the child is a boy.

What are some Sikh baby girl names with Kaur?

Popular Sikh girl names include Harleen Kaur, Simran Kaur, Jasnoor Kaur, Gurleen Kaur and Navneet Kaur. The name Kaur, meaning “princess”, is given to every Sikh girl.

Are Sikh names taken from Gurbani?

Many are. Lots of Sikh names are made from words found in Gurbani, such as Simran (remembrance of God), Har (God), Jas (praise), Preet (love) and Jot (light).

Why are Sikh names unisex?

Most Sikh first names are unisex because Sikhs believe men and women are equal. The second name — Singh for boys and Kaur for girls — usually shows whether someone is male or female.

What does Singh mean?

Singh means “lion”. Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave the name to all Khalsa men in 1699 as a sign of courage and to remove caste surnames, so that all Sikhs are one family.

What does Kaur mean?

Kaur is usually translated as “princess”. Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave it to all Sikh women in 1699 as a sign of dignity and equality. A Sikh woman keeps the name Kaur and does not need to take her husband’s surname.

What do the parts of Sikh names mean?

Common parts include Gur (Guru), Har (God), Jas (praise), Man (mind), -preet (love), -jeet (victory), -deep (lamp), -leen (absorbed in God), -inder (lord), -noor (divine light) and -bir (brave).

🧭 Explore more

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