UK girl's name
Gurnaaz
A feminine Punjabi name meaning "praiseworthy" or "virtuous".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Gurnaaz is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Gurnaaz popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #811, with 46 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 46 births.
This profile covers 133 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2016 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Gurnaaz is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 132 living people in the UK are called Gurnaaz. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Gurnaaz ranked #811 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 46 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 46 girls were registered as Gurnaaz.
- • About 132 living people in the UK are estimated to have Gurnaaz as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#811
2024
Births in 2024
46
Latest year
Peak year
2024
46 births
Estimated living
132
2026
Meaning
What does Gurnaaz mean?
The name Gurnaaz has its origins in the Punjabi language, which is primarily spoken in the Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, as well as in the Pakistani province of Punjab. The name is believed to have derived from the Persian words "gur," meaning "sugar," and "naaz," meaning "coquetry" or "coyness."
The earliest recorded use of the name Gurnaaz can be traced back to the 16th century, during the reign of the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent. It is believed that the name became popular among the Punjabi Sikh community during this time, as many Sikhs adopted names with Persian roots due to the influence of the Mughal culture.
One of the earliest historical references to the name Gurnaaz can be found in the writings of the renowned Sikh scholar and poet, Bhai Gurdas (1551-1636). In his literary work, "Varan Bhai Gurdas," he mentions a woman named Gurnaaz, who was known for her beauty and grace.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Gurnaaz. One such person was Gurnaaz Kaur (1935-2021), a prominent Punjabi folk singer and actress from India. She was widely acclaimed for her contributions to the preservation and promotion of Punjabi folk music and culture.
Another famous Gurnaaz was Gurnaaz Singh (1892-1961), an Indian freedom fighter and politician who played a significant role in the struggle for independence from British rule. He was a member of the Indian National Congress and served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India, which drafted the country's constitution.
In the field of literature, Gurnaaz Khurana (born 1972) is a celebrated Indian author and screenwriter. Her novels, such as "Jasmine Leaves" and "The Awakening," explore themes of identity, relationships, and the complexities of modern urban life.
Gurnaaz Kaur Cheema (born 1993) is a prominent Indian athlete who specializes in the sport of weightlifting. She has represented India in various international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, and has won numerous medals for her country.
Gurnaaz Singh Sandhu (born 1997) is an Indian cricketer who plays for the Punjab cricket team in domestic tournaments. He is a right-arm medium-fast bowler and is considered a promising talent in Indian cricket.
It is important to note that while the name Gurnaaz has its roots in the Punjabi culture, it has gained popularity across various regions and communities in India and beyond, transcending cultural and linguistic boundaries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Gurnaaz over time
The chart below shows babies named Gurnaaz registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2016 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Gurnaaz, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 46 births in 2024, compared with 46 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gurnaaz by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Gurnaaz was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1649 | 122 | 5 |
| 2010s | #5052 | 11 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Gurnaaz
- Grace 79,208
- Georgia 48,838
- Gracie 18,387
- Georgina 15,599
- Gabriella 10,902
- Gemma 8,350
- Gabrielle 7,154
- Georgie 4,883
- Gabriela 3,300
- Genevieve 2,393
- Gracie-Mae 1,727
- Greta 1,283
FAQ
Gurnaaz: questions and answers
How popular is the name Gurnaaz in the UK right now?
In 2024, Gurnaaz was ranked #811 for girls in England and Wales, with 46 births registered.
When was Gurnaaz most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 46 babies registered as Gurnaaz in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Gurnaaz?
A feminine Punjabi name meaning "praiseworthy" or "virtuous".
How many people are called Gurnaaz in the UK?
A total of 133 babies have been registered as Gurnaaz across the 8 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.