Boy · Punjabi · Sikh
Gurpal
ਗੁਰਪਾਲSay it goor-PAAL
- Meaning today
- Protected by the Guru
- Original meaning
- "gur (the Guru) joined with pāl (protector, sustainer)" Mahan Kosh
- Say it
- goor-PAAL
- Spelling in Punjabi
- ਗੁਰਪਾਲ
- Spelling in English
- Gurpal, Gurpaal
Gurpal
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Gurpal meaning
Gurpal (ਗੁਰਪਾਲ) is a Sikh boy's name of Punjabi origin.
Gur (the Guru) joined with pāl (protector, sustainer)
Also used to mean: protected by the Guru
Gurpal (ਗੁਰਪਾਲ) joins gur, the Guru, with pāl, a protector. Pāl comes from the Sanskrit root meaning to protect, and the Mahan Kosh gives it as one who nurtures, a protector; the Guru Granth Sahib often speaks of God cherishing and sustaining all beings, as on Ang 45. The name can be read as the Guru who protects, and name lists usually turn it round as one protected by the Guru, or one whose caretaker is the Guru, which comes to much the same thing. Gurpal is a traditional Sikh boys' name, built in the same way as Harpal and Inderpal. The whole name is not a dictionary headword; its meaning comes from its two parts.
Source: Mahan Kosh, Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha (1930) · entry ਪਾਲ · See the entry · checked 30 Oct 2026
References: Mahan Kosh, ਗੁਰ (srigranth.org) · Mahan Kosh, ਪਾਲ (srigranth.org) · Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 45
How the name is built
- Gur ਗੁਰ: the Guru; a teacher who dispels ignorance
Mahan Kosh · Guru Granth Sahib Ang 1 - Pal ਪਾਲ: protector, one who nurtures (Sanskrit root pāl, to protect)
Mahan Kosh · Guru Granth Sahib Ang 45
Spellings
Gurpal · Gurpaal