Singh

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Singh, meaning "Lion", is a male name used by Hindu Rajputs (Kshatriya) and Sikh clans.

Naming in India

Within the Sikh community, (and some hindu communties) the usual practice for personal names is to give a name of one of the gods, goddesses, spirits, or sages, or a name derived from the divine virtues and roles. The name Singh is given to represent the virtue of strength. It was quite common among the Rajput caste and some Kshatriya clans of Hindus, but it has retained some modern popularity in all regions.

Singh was originally used by the Hindu Rajputs of North India <ref>Reference: Dr. Gopal Singh, History of the Sikhs</ref>. After the birth of the Khalsa brotherhood in 1699, the Sikhs adopted the name "Singh" due to the wishes of Guru Gobind Singh. The Rajput martial way of life was a great influence upon the martial traditions of the people of the Punjab and Shivalik hill ranges, as cited in Guru Gobind Singh's monumental work and partial autobiography Bachitra Natak. "Kaur" was the equivalent name for females, since Rajput females used "Kumari"<ref>Dr. McCleod, Head of Sikh Studies, Department of South Asian Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada</ref>.

Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru, gave the name "Singh" to all the Sikh men so that all in the community would be equals. Women had not been treated as equals before the time of the Gurus, so to ensure equality, the name Kaur (meaning "Princess") was given to all the Sikh women. The Guru said, "You are my beloved princesses, my daughters. You must be respected. How can this world be without you?" Template:Fact These two names were given to the Sikhs on April 13 and 14, 1699.

References

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