What is "sinha"

Antônio Naelson Matias (May 23, 1976), known as Sinha or Zinha, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Deportivo Toluca in the Liga MX. Naturalized Mexican citizen, he played for Mexico in the 2006 World Cup.

A creative attacking midfielder, Naelson is known for his vision, pace, dribbling and passing ability. He is also an accurate set-piece taker.

Sinha is a Sanskrit term originates in the Indian subcontinent, common in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan, covering south Asia. It comes from the Sanskrit word "Siṃha" ('ng' sound), which means lion.

In Sri Lanka, the term 'Sinha' (or Siha / Sinhe / Singhe / Singha / Singho) have commonly been used by the Sinhalese (or Sinhala). When it comes to the term 'Sinhala' itself, the first part of the word, 'Sinha' stands for lion while 'la' or 'le' stands for blood, giving the meaning 'Lions blood'. The word Simhmam (or Singam / Singham / Singhai / Singai) is the Sri Lankan Tamil derivative. In northern and middle part of India as well as southern India Sinhraj/Sinharaj/Sinharaja or Rajasinha is also used, having the meaning Lion king or leo king.

The more common surname Singh in India has same root. Jayasinghe and other surnames like 'Wijesinghe', 'Weerasingha', 'Edirisinghe', 'Singaiariyan' in Sri Lanka may also share this same root.

Sinha is used as a surname by the Kayasthas of Bihar and Sinha or Singho by the Bengali Kayasthas.

In Bihar, the surname Sinha is found among various castes. Sinha and Singh are interchangeable. According to academician-bureaucrat, late Kumar Suresh Singh, the surname 'Singh' was once used to denote power and authority, and was used in Bihar by Brahmin zamindars.

Sinha is also an unrelated name found in Brazil.

Also see Sinha

Sinha is a surname commonly used in Sri Lanka and India. It may refer to:

• Amara Sinha (c. AD 375) Sanskrit grammarian and poet
• Anindya Sinha - Indian primatologist
• Anubhav Sinha (b. 1965) Indian film director
• Anugrah Narayan Sinha (1887–1957) Indian politician
• Anupam Sinha - Raj Comics artist
• Basawon Singh (Sinha) (1909–1989) Indian nationalist and freedom fighter
• DeLon Jayasingha - Sinhalese Musician / Sri Lankan American-based Rapper / Hip-hop Artist
• Indra Sinha (b. 1950) Indian/British author
• Jagmohanlal Sinha (b. 1920) Indian lawyer, former judge
• J. K. Sinha - Indian Police Service officer
• Mala Sinha (b. 1936) Indian actress
• Man Mohan Sinha (b. 1933) Air Marshal I.A.F
• Manjul Sinha - Indian television director
• Manoj Sinha (b. 1959) Indian politician, Ghazipur
• Paul Sinha (b. 1970) British Bengali stand-up comedian and general practitioner
• Ranasinghe Premadasa - President of Sri Lanka from January 2, 1989 to May 1, 1993
• Rameshwar Prasad Sinha (d. 1965) Indian politician
• Rashmi Sinha (b. 1960) Homemaker
• Sachidanand Sinha (b. 1937) Indian poet
• Sandali Sinha (b. 1971) Indian actress
• Sarat Chandra Sinha (1914–2005) Indian writer and politician
• Satyendra Narayan Sinha (1917–2006) Indian politician
• Satyendra Prasanno Sinha, 1st Baron Sinha (1863–1928) Indian lawyer and statesman
• Shantha Sinha - Indian professor and activist
• Sonakshi Sinha - Indian actress and model
• Shatrughan Sinha (b. 1946) Indian actor and politician
• Sri Vikrama Rajasinha - Mahanuwara/ Kandy, King of Sri Lanka
• Siddharth Sinha, Indian filmmaker
• Sri Krishna Sinha (1887–1962) Indian nationalist known as Bihar Kesari, first Chief Minister of Bihar
• Srinivas Kumar Sinha (b. 1926) Indian politician
• Tapan Sinha (b. 1924) Indian film director
• Tuhin Sinha (b. 1977) Author
• U K Sinha (b. 1952) Indian businessman and politician
• Vikrama Rajasinha - Mahanuwara/ Kandy, King of Sri Lanka
• Vidya Sinha (b. 1947) Indian film and television actress
• Yashwant Sinha (b. 1937) Indian politician