Simran
Hi, apologies if this has been asked before, but can anyone tell me anything about the girls' name Simran? It appears in the Canadian Most Popular Names list, but doesn't appear to be on the database? I've never heard it before. What does it mean and why is it popular in Canada? Thanks!
Replies
Simran is a Sikh name. Here is a site explaining the significance of the word in the Sikh religion:
http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Simran
I would bet that Simran is especially popular with Sikh parents at the moment because it is now the name of a famous Bollywood actress:
http://www.onesmartclick.com/bollywood/simran.html
Finally, it's obvious when one looks at the name lists available from Canadian provinces that for some reason an especially high percentage of immigrants to Canada from India must be Sikhs, as Sikh names are very prominent on those lists.
http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Simran
I would bet that Simran is especially popular with Sikh parents at the moment because it is now the name of a famous Bollywood actress:
http://www.onesmartclick.com/bollywood/simran.html
Finally, it's obvious when one looks at the name lists available from Canadian provinces that for some reason an especially high percentage of immigrants to Canada from India must be Sikhs, as Sikh names are very prominent on those lists.
This message was edited 8/4/2007, 4:41 PM
Correct on all counts: Many of the Indian immigrants to Canada are Sikhs who bring their Punjabi culture with them. The root smR in Sanskrit is indeed cognate with the root of English word memory, and means to recall. smaraNa is recall or memory, and is used also for recalling God's name and greatness. simran (the -a- is like in English about) is the Punjabi pronounciation, and the name of an actress.
Thanks for that. I was thinking it might be the name of someone famous.