Gurshawn
A masculine name of Muslim origin meaning "great lion" or "lion-like".
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Gurshawn. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Gurshawn today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gurshawn births was 2010 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gurshawn. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Gurshawn. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
2010
6 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2010 SSA rank
#11,226
Tracked since 2007
Popularity
Gurshawn: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Gurshawn from the 2000s through to the 2010s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 6 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gurshawn 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 Gurshawn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Gurshawn
The given name Gurshawn has its linguistic origins rooted in the ancient Sanskrit language spoken in the Indian subcontinent. Derived from the Sanskrit word "Gurusharan," which translates to "one who seeks refuge in the guru or teacher," the name carries a profound spiritual connotation. Its earliest recorded use can be traced back to the Vedic era, around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE, when it was bestowed upon individuals dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment.
During the golden age of Hindu philosophy and literature, spanning from the 3rd century BCE to the 8th century CE, the name Gurshawn gained prominence. It was particularly favored among scholarly circles and those who embraced the teachings of the ancient sages and gurus. The name is mentioned in several sacred texts, including the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, where it is associated with individuals of wisdom and spiritual guidance.
One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name Gurshawn was a revered scholar and poet who lived in the 5th century CE. His literary works, including a collection of devotional hymns, were widely celebrated and influenced generations of poets and thinkers. Another notable figure was Gurshawn the Astronomer, who lived during the 7th century CE and made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and celestial calculations.
In the medieval period, the name Gurshawn was particularly popular among the Rajput warrior clans of northern India. It was believed to bestow strength, courage, and a sense of honor upon those who carried it. One of the most celebrated figures from this era was Gurshawn Singh, a valiant Rajput warrior who fought against the Mughal invaders in the 16th century and is remembered for his bravery and unwavering spirit.
As the Indian diaspora spread across the globe, the name Gurshawn also found its way into various cultures and communities. In the 18th century, there was a renowned Gurshawn who was a master of the Indian classical dance form Kathak, and his performances were celebrated across the Mughal courts of the time. In more recent history, Gurshawn Kaur was a prominent activist and advocate for women's rights in the early 20th century, who played a pivotal role in the independence movement of India.
Throughout its rich history, the name Gurshawn has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, be it literature, arts, science, or social reform. Its profound spiritual roots and connection to the pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment have made it a revered and cherished name across generations.
People
Gurshawn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gurshawn 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
Gurshawn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gurshawn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gurshawn 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 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Gurshawn a common name?
We classify Gurshawn as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gurshawn most popular?
The single biggest year for Gurshawn was 2010, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gurshawn is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Gurshawn in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Gurshawn a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gurshawn 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.
Is Gurshawn still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Gurshawn in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Gurshawn can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Gurshawn?
You can see how many people have the name Gurshawn on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.