Nanak
n(a)-nak
Origin:Indian
Meaning:The mother's village; Coin; Sikh guru
Nanak is an Indian and Punjabi masculine name tied to ancestry, spirituality, and wealth. This short yet impactful appellation is said to derive from the word nanaka and is traditionally given to those born in their mother’s ancestral village. Nanak is also a word for “coin” in several Indian languages, bringing themes of wealth and prosperity to the table. A famous namesake for baby to learn about one day is Guru Nanak, a spiritual teacher who is venerated as the founder and first guru of Sikhism. In just two warm syllables, Nanak captures many aspects of life and can have sentimental value in so many ways.
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Sources
Behind the Name, Nanak, February 2019
100,000+ Baby Names by Bruce Lansky, pg. 482
Wisdom Library Nanaka, Nāṇaka, Nānaka: 15 definitions
Wisdom Library, Significance of Nanak
Britannica, Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism, January 2025
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