Gurkirat
A masculine name of Indian origin meaning "one who praises God's glory".
Name Census estimates that about 101 living Americans carry the first name Gurkirat. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 76.5% of registrations being male. The average person named Gurkirat today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gurkirat births was 2009 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gurkirat. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
101
~ 1 in 3,393,607 Americans
Peak year
2009
13 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2023 SSA rank
#9,199
Tracked since 1995
Gender
Gender distribution for Gurkirat
Gurkirat is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 102 total registrations, 78 (76.5%) were male and 24 (23.5%) were female.
Gurkirat as a male name
- Ranked #9,199 in 2023
- 8 male births in 2023
- Peak: 2009 (13 births)
Gurkirat as a female name
- Ranked #12,608 in 2020
- 7 female births in 2020
- Peak: 2020 (7 births)
Popularity
Gurkirat: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Gurkirat from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 44 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Gurkirat remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gurkirat by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Gurkirat during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Gurkirats live
Origin
Meaning and history of Gurkirat
The name Gurkirat has its roots in the Punjabi language, originating from the northern region of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the areas now known as Punjab in India and Pakistan. It is a compound name formed by combining the words "Gur" and "Kirat," both of which hold significant meanings in the Sikh tradition.
The word "Gur" is derived from the Sanskrit term "Guru," which signifies a spiritual guide or teacher. In the Sikh faith, it is closely associated with the revered Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. The term "Kirat" refers to honest labor or work, one of the three fundamental principles emphasized in Sikh teachings, along with Nam Simran (meditation) and Vand Chhakna (sharing and caring).
The name Gurkirat finds its earliest mentions in the sacred texts of Sikhism, particularly in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the central religious scripture. It is believed to have been used as a name since the 16th century, during the time of the Sikh Gurus.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gurkirat can be traced back to Bhai Gurkirat Singh, a prominent Sikh scholar and warrior who lived during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He played a significant role in the defense of the Sikh faith and is remembered for his bravery and devotion.
Another notable figure bearing the name Gurkirat was Gurkirat Singh Kotli, a renowned Sikh philosopher and poet from the 18th century. His literary works, including the "Gurkirat Sahib," have been widely studied and celebrated within the Sikh community.
In the 19th century, Gurkirat Singh Musafir was a revered Sikh saint and scholar known for his spiritual teachings and contributions to Sikh literature. His writings, including the "Gurkirat Prakash," continue to inspire and guide devotees to this day.
The name Gurkirat also gained prominence through the life of Gurkirat Singh Sekhon, a distinguished Indian Army officer who served during World War II. He was awarded the prestigious Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military honor, for his exceptional valor and sacrifice during the Burma Campaign in 1944.
In more recent times, Gurkirat Singh Grewal, a talented Indian cricketer born in 1989, has carried the name with distinction. He has represented India in various international tournaments and is recognized for his all-round skills on the cricket field.
The name Gurkirat continues to be widely used within the Sikh community, serving as a reminder of the faith's emphasis on spiritual guidance, honest labor, and a life dedicated to service and righteousness.
People
Gurkirat + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gurkirat as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Gurkirat: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gurkirat?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 101 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gurkirat going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 3,393,607 US residents.
Is Gurkirat a common name?
We classify Gurkirat as "Very Rare". It ranks above 64.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 102 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gurkirat most popular?
The single biggest year for Gurkirat was 2009, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gurkirat is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Gurkirat a male name?
Yes, 76.5% of people registered as Gurkirat in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.