Why Singapore Is Called the "Lion City"

The name Singapore comes from the Malay Singapura, which derives from Sanskrit Siṃhapura—"Lion City" (siṃha = lion, pura = city). The Chinese name 新加坡 (Xīnjiāpō) carries the same meaning.

The Founding Legend

According to the Malay Annals (Sejarah Melayu), in 1299, a Srivijayan prince named Sang Nila Utama (also called Sri Tri Buana) was hunting on the island of Temasek. He spotted a strange beast—golden-haired, fast, with a red body and black head—which his courtiers identified as a lion (likely a Malayan tiger or Asian golden cat; lions never lived in the region).

Taking it as an auspicious sign, he founded a settlement at the mouth of the Singapore River (where it meets the Kallang River) and named it Singapura. The lion also symbolized prosperity in Chinese culture, reinforcing the choice.

Historical Context

• 14th century: Singapura was a thriving port kingdom under Parameswara, then a vassal of Majapahit and Ayutthaya.
• 1613: Burned by Portuguese raiders; declined into obscurity.
• 1819: Sir Stamford Raffles established a British trading post, reviving the ancient name.

Today, the Merlion** (lion head, fish body) — designed in 1964 — stands as Singapore's iconic emblem, spouting water at Marina Bay.