Sahibzada

Sahibzada is a title or honorific used in South Asian languages such as Urdu, Punjabi, and Persian. It literally means “son of a sahib,” with sahib meaning master or lord and -zada meaning son. The term denotes a prince or high-born son and has historically been applied to members of ruling or noble lineages as well as to young men of notable standing.

In Mughal and Sikh contexts, Sahibzada signified the sons of a ruler or religious leader. In Sikhism, the title is specifically associated with the sons of the Sikh Gurus, who are remembered as Sahibzade. Notable examples include Sahibzada Ajit Singh and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh, sons of Guru Gobind Singh, and Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, who were martyred in their youth. The term appears in religious texts, hagiographies, and historical chronicles.

Today, Sahibzada remains part of historical and literary usage and may appear in genealogies or as a literary honorific. It is not an official modern rank, but it continues to carry connotations of noble lineage. Variants in spelling and transcription, such as Sahibzade or Sahibzadeh, reflect linguistic differences across Urdu, Punjabi, and Persian-influenced contexts. The term is primarily encountered in historical discussion, biographical works, and cultural writings related to South Asia.