Singh
/sɪŋ/noun
A surname or title, especially among Sikh men, derived from the Sanskrit word for “lion.”
Did you know?In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh gave Sikh men the name Singh, transforming “lion” into a shared marker of equality, bravery, and resistance to caste hierarchy.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
siṃha
“Lion”
Early medieval India
Sanskrit/Prakrit
siṃha / siha
“Lion; a royal or heroic epithet”
15th–16th Century
North Indian languages
Singh
“A title or name meaning “lion,” used by warriors and rulers”
1699
Punjabi
Siṅgh
“The name bestowed on Sikh men by Guru Gobind Singh”
18th–19th Century
English
Singh
“A Sikh male name or surname, adopted into English usage”
Modern English
English
Singh
“A common Sikh surname and personal name, also used by some non-Sikh communities”