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Summary of Question:	The Name Singh... Another Perspective
Category:	Other
Date Posted:	Friday, 5/14/2004 8:57 PM MDT

Sat Nam.

I've been following the Singh thing for a while, and my question's going to be off the topic but here goes... what if the woman's name is Singh?

I've been told, too many times for my liking, that Singh is a man's name. Due to marriage laws in New York, I had the choice of keeping the alphabet soup that was my maiden name, hyphenating the two (which I refused, as I did not desire to carry my father's name) or taking the man's name. I am legally then Elizabeth Singh, much to the shock of our rather traditional gurudwara. I'd have done Kaur because I am used to the Slavic habit of differentiating men'a and women's surnames but for state law. Now I'd like to know, how do you deal with the shocked looks, and that word in Panjabi which I think refers to being "butch"?

Blessed be

Elizabet

<<<<< REPLY>>>>>

Sat Nam! Singh is a not uncommon last name. This includes non-sikhs as well. Many Sindhis have the last name of Singh. Knowing you, I'm sure that by now you are beyond the slings and arrows. . .

I know several lovely Sikh ladies with the family name "Singh." When you are comfortable with it, what others think won't matter.

.....G