Singh means 'lion' and Kaur means 'princess' — the names Guru Gobind Singh gave every Sikh in 1699 to erase caste and give everyone equal dignity. Where they come from, who uses them, and how to use them correctly.
Singh (ਸਿੰਘ) means "lion" and Kaur (ਕੌਰ) means "princess". They are the names Guru Gobind Singh gave to every Sikh at the founding of the Khalsa on Vaisakhi in 1699: all men became Singh and all women became Kaur, replacing the caste surnames that told everyone where you ranked. Three centuries later they are among the most common names in Canada, Britain and the United States — and most people who meet a Singh or a Kaur have no idea what the names carry.
Where the Names Come From
Singh comes from the Sanskrit siṃha, "lion" — a royal title Rajput warriors had used for centuries. Kaur comes from kanwar (or kumar), "prince", so it is usually translated "princess" — a title of rank given to women in their own right rather than one derived from a husband. Both are written with the nasal mark you'll meet when you learn to read Gurmukhi: ਸਿੰਘ and ਕੌਰ.
Why Guru Gobind Singh Gave Them to Everyone
In 1699, at Anandpur Sahib, the tenth Guru created the Khalsa — the initiated Sikh community — and with it a new identity. Family names in Punjab announced caste: a surname could mark you as a landowner, a trader, a labourer. Giving every initiated man the single name Singh and every woman Kaur abolished that hierarchy in one stroke: a farmer and a king were now both "lion", and no woman had to take her husband's family name to belong. Equality, courage and a shared identity — the names were a declaration.
How Singh and Kaur Are Used Today
| Usage | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| As a middle name with a family name | Harpreet Singh Gill · Simran Kaur Sidhu | The most common form in Punjab; the family name (Gill, Sidhu, Sandhu) follows |
| As the surname itself | Harpreet Singh · Simran Kaur | Very common in the diaspora and among families who dropped caste names entirely |
| In a woman's name after marriage | Simran Kaur stays Simran Kaur | Kaur doesn't change at marriage — part of the point |
| Non-Sikh Singhs | Rajput and other Indian communities | Singh predates Sikhism as a title; not every Singh is Sikh, but every Sikh man is a Singh |
Etiquette for Everyone Else
- "Mr Singh" and "Ms Kaur" are correct — but in a room full of Sikhs they won't single anyone out, so use first names once you've been introduced.
- Don't assume Singhs are related. Millions share the name; it's an identity, not a family.
- Pronunciation: Singh is "sing" (the h is silent in English speech); Kaur rhymes with "core".
- Forms and records: many Sikhs are legally "Singh" or "Kaur" as a surname with no further family name — it isn't a missing field.
Other Names You'll Hear Alongside Them
First names are often shared by men and women and end in -preet (love), -deep (lamp), -jit (victory) or -inder: Harpreet, Gurdeep, Manjit, Rajinder. Family names are usually clan or village names — Gill, Sidhu, Dhillon, Sandhu, Grewal, Brar. And in conversation, respect is shown with ji: Singh sahib, Kaur ji. The greeting that goes with all of it is Sat Sri Akaal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Singh mean?
Singh (ਸਿੰਘ) means "lion", from the Sanskrit siṃha. Every initiated Sikh man carries it, following Guru Gobind Singh's founding of the Khalsa in 1699; it was also a Rajput royal title long before that.
What does Kaur mean?
Kaur (ਕੌਰ) means "princess", from kanwar/kumar, "prince". Every Sikh woman carries it in her own right, and keeps it when she marries.
Why do Sikh women use Kaur instead of their husband's name?
Because Kaur was given to women as an independent title of dignity: a Sikh woman is a Kaur from birth, and marriage doesn't change it. It expresses the Khalsa's principle that men and women stand equal.
Is everyone named Singh a Sikh?
No. Singh is also used by Rajputs and several other North Indian communities, who used it as a warrior title before Sikhism. Every Sikh man is a Singh, but not every Singh is Sikh. Kaur, by contrast, is almost always Sikh.
Learn the Language Behind the Names with Alfaazo
Understanding names like Singh and Kaur is the first step into a language full of meaning. Alfaazo teaches Punjabi with native audio, the Gurmukhi script and bite-sized lessons you can finish in five minutes a day — built for heritage speakers and brand-new learners alike. Free on iOS and Android.
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