Names beginning with 'A' sound

Aaeenaa - 20 Sep 2024

Note: the pronunciation comparisons are done based on North American English.
If you see a Sikh name which is not on the list then please let us know, DM @SikhTranslations on Instagram for us to add it.

Commonly Spelt	Amrit
Common Mistakes	‘Am’ mispronounced like in ‘dam’ ‘t’ mispronounced like in ‘lit’
Actually Pronounced	‘Um’ in Amrit as in ‘umbrella’ or ‘umpire’ ‘t’ in Amrith as in ‘myth’ or ‘Smith’
Suggested Spellings	Umrith, Amrith
Name meaning	A-mrith = ‘mrith’ means death, ‘a’ as a prefix refers to being free from something. Amrith means being free from death. Vaheguru is not subject to death, having merged with Vaheguru Amrith also refers to a drink of immortality. Khalsa was created through Khanda-Pahul ceremony where those being initiated drink Amrit created through the recitation of Gurbani and stirring of the Khanda double-edged sword. Spiritual Immortality is gained through Gurbani.

Commonly Spelt	Anoop
Common Mistakes	‘A’ mispronounced like in Ant
Actually Pronounced	‘Uh’ as in ‘up’ ‘Noo’ as in ‘new’ ‘P’ as in ‘loop’
Suggested Spellings	Anoop, Unoop
Name meaning	Oop is short for Upma, Upma means praise. Since there are two vowels beside each other, ‘A-’ prefix becomes ‘An’ meaning ‘free from’. In this case, Anoop means Vaheguru who cannot be praised. Praising Vaheguru is not possible. One can begin to praise but will never be able to finish this task and thus, we can say Vaheguru is Anoop instead.

Commonly Spelt	Anand
Common Mistakes	Both ‘A’ sounds here are mispronounced as short ‘a’s like in ‘ant’ ‘d’ mispronounced like in ‘grand’
Actually Pronounced	‘Un’ as in ‘understand’ ‘Dh’ as in ‘the’
Suggested Spellings	Unundh, Anundh
Name meaning	Anand means being spiritually pleased or spiritually delighted. This is the name of one of the 5 Morning Nitnem Prayers. This prayer is also featured partially in the Evening Prayer ~ Rehras Sahib. Connecting to Vaheguru will lead one to be in a state of Anand.

Commonly Spelt	Aman
Common Mistakes	‘Am’ mispronounced like ‘jam’ ‘Man’ mispronounced like ‘man’
Actually Pronounced	‘Um’ as in ‘umbrella’ ‘Mun’ as in ‘fun’
Suggested Spellings	Amun, Umun
Name meaning	Aman = A-Man meaning ‘A-’ being free from, mun = mind. The nature of the mind is unstable, constantly moving from one thought to the next. A-man describes the peace received from surrendering of the mind to Vaheguru

Commonly Spelt	Angad
Common Mistakes	‘Ang’ mispronounced like ‘hang’ ‘Ad’ mispronounced like ‘advertisement’
Actually Pronounced	‘Ung’ as in ‘Rung’ ‘a’ as in ‘mud’ ‘dh’ as in ‘the’
Suggested Spellings	Ungadh, Angadh
Name meaning	Angad is the name of the 2nd Guru Sahib: Guru Angad Dev Sahib Ji. Literally is an arm-band or otherwise jewelry worn on a limb. It refers to Guru Angad Dev Ji being that close to Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji. It is as if Guru Angad Dev Ji has come from a limb of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji.

Commonly Spelt	Amar
Common Mistakes	‘Am’ mispronounced like in ‘Lamb’ ‘Ar’ mispronounced like in ‘Arctic’ ‘Ar’ mispronounced like in ‘Harry’
Actually Pronounced	‘Um’ as in ‘Umbrella’ or ‘Umpire’ ‘Er’ as in ‘runner’ or ‘painter’ Rhymes with Hummer
Suggested Spellings	Umar, Amer
Name meaning	‘Mar’ refers to death, ‘A’ is a prefix used to denote being free from something. Amar means being free from death as in being immortal. Attaching to Immortal Vaheguru will make one Immortal.

Commonly Spelt	Akash, also Aakaash [different name same meaning]
Common Mistakes	‘Ak’ mispronounced like in ‘Jack’ ‘Ash’ mispronounced ‘ash’ Mispronounced as a-cash
Actually Pronounced	‘Uh’ as in ‘up’ ‘K’ as in ‘kick’ ‘aa’ as in naan ‘Sh’ as in ‘finish’
Suggested Spellings	Akaash, Uhkaash
Name meaning	Akaash literally refers to the sky or the ether element. Akaash also refers to a high state. Akash is synonymous to Vaheguru as it refers to Their Greatness. The sky/space looks infinite just as the Glory of Vaheguru.

Commonly Spelt	Amit
Common Mistakes	‘Am’ mispronounced like in ‘camera’ ‘It’ mispronounced like in ‘lit’
Actually Pronounced	‘Um’ as in ‘umbrella’ or ‘umpire’ ‘Ith’ as in ‘Smith’ or ‘myth’
Suggested Spellings	Umith. Amith
Name meaning	‘A-’ prefix refers to being ‘free from’ something, ‘mith’ refers to measurement. Amith is referring to the Immeasurableness of Vaheguru. We can measure physical things but what about the non-physical?

Commonly Spelt	Arsh
Common Mistakes	‘Ar’ mispronounced like in ‘Harry’
Actually Pronounced	‘Ar’ as in the letter R
Suggested Spellings	Arsh
Name meaning	Refers to Throne of Vaheguru, also refer to the Heavens... higher spiritual states associated with Vaheguru

Commonly Spelt	Ajit, Ajeet
Common Mistakes	‘It’ misp. like in ‘lit’ ‘-eet’ misp. like in ‘greet’
Actually Pronounced	‘eeth’ as in ‘teeth’
Suggested Spellings	Ajeeth
Name meaning	A- prefix refers to being free from something, Jeeth means victory. Ajeeth means undefeatable. Guru Gobind Singh Ji named Their Eldest Son Sahibzada Baba Ajeet Singh after winning the Battle of Bhangani. Baba Ajeet Singh remembered his name upon becoming a martyr at the Battle of Chamkaur Sahib.

Commonly Spelt	Arjan, Arjun
Common Mistakes	‘Ar’ mispronounced like in ‘Harry’ ‘Jan’ mispronounced like in ‘January’ ‘u’ misprounounced like ‘look’
Actually Pronounced	‘Ar’ as in the letter ‘R’ ‘Jun’ as in ‘fun’
Suggested Spellings	Arjun, Arjunn
Name meaning	Arjan literally means to earn and to collect. Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Sahib Ji is the name of the 5th Guru Sahib. They attained martyrdom while sitting in a boiling pot, having hot sand poured on them, and then having to sit on a burning stove top.

Commonly Spelt	Avtar, Avatar
Common Mistakes	‘Av’ mispronounced like in ‘Avalanche’ ‘Tar’ mispronounced ‘tar’ ‘Ava’ 2nd ‘a’ is silent
Actually Pronounced	‘Uhv’ as in ‘Of’ ‘Th’ as in ‘There’ ‘Aar’ as in ‘Car’
Suggested Spellings	Uvthaar, Avthaar
Name meaning	Avtar means birth, incarnation. Vaheguru takes upon the form of all creation and yet does not take form at all. ***Aadh Anth Ekai Avthaaraa...

Commonly Spelt	Arsh
Common Mistakes	‘A’ mispronounced like ‘Ai’ in ambulance
Actually Pronounced	Uh-rsh
Suggested Spellings	Arsh
Name meaning	Arsh means Royal Throne in Arabic but can specifically refer to the Throne of Vaheguru... Also can refer to Heavens

Commonly Spelt	Anmol
Common Mistakes	‘An’ mispronounced as in the name ‘Anne’ ‘ol’ mispronounced as in ‘Aw’ in All
Actually Pronounced	‘Un’ as in ‘undo‘ ‘Mole’
Suggested Spellings	Anmole
Name meaning	‘An’ prefix refers to being free from something ‘Mol/Mul’ refers to the value of something Refers to Vaheguru and all that is associated with Divinity is priceless ‘Amul Gun Amul Veechar...’