Gurtaaz
A masculine name of Punjabi origin meaning "glorious, eminent".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Gurtaaz. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Gurtaaz today is around 3 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gurtaaz births was 2023 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gurtaaz. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Gurtaaz with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Gurtaaz. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2023
5 babies that year
Average age
3
years old
2023 SSA rank
#12,869
Tracked since 2023
Popularity
Gurtaaz: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Gurtaaz 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 Gurtaaz during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Gurtaaz
The name Gurtaaz finds its origins in the Punjabi language, which is predominantly spoken in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. The name is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "Gurtāj," which translates to "crown of the guru" or "revered one." This name holds deep cultural and religious significance in Sikhism.
One of the earliest mentions of the name Gurtaaz can be traced back to the 16th century, during the reign of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru. It is believed that the name was bestowed upon individuals who demonstrated exceptional devotion and commitment to the Sikh faith and its teachings.
In the annals of Sikh history, several notable figures have borne the name Gurtaaz. One such individual was Gurtaaz Singh (1670-1724), a renowned Sikh warrior and military strategist who played a crucial role in the defense of Anandpur Sahib, a sacred city for Sikhs, during the conflicts with the Mughal Empire.
Another prominent figure was Gurtaaz Kaur (1722-1789), a courageous Sikh woman who fought alongside her husband, Baba Deep Singh, in the Battle of Chamkaur Sahib. Her bravery and unwavering faith in the face of adversity have made her a revered figure in Sikh history.
In the 18th century, Gurtaaz Singh Bhangu (1750-1820) was a notable Sikh scholar and historian who authored the "Panth Prakash," a comprehensive account of the lives of the Sikh Gurus and the history of the Sikh faith.
More recently, Gurtaaz Iqbal (1925-2001) was a renowned Pakistani poet and writer who made significant contributions to Punjabi literature. His works explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition, earning him widespread acclaim and recognition.
While the name Gurtaaz has its roots in the Sikh tradition, it has transcended religious boundaries and is now used by families across various communities in the Punjab region and beyond, serving as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and diversity of the area.
People
Gurtaaz + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gurtaaz 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
Gurtaaz: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gurtaaz?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gurtaaz 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Gurtaaz a common name?
We classify Gurtaaz as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gurtaaz most popular?
The single biggest year for Gurtaaz was 2023, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gurtaaz is about 3 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 Gurtaaz in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Gurtaaz a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gurtaaz 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 Gurtaaz still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Gurtaaz 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 Gurtaaz 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 Gurtaaz?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.