The first name Krishna
A unisex name from Sanskrit.
Pronounced /ˈkɹɪʃnə/ 2 syllables Unisex Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Sanskrit origin
Borrowed from Sanskrit कृष्ण (kṛṣṇa).
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 11 boys were named Krishna, making it the 2,133rd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2005, with 28 births (#827).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Krishna with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Krishna at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 69 boys born in the United States were named Krishna, the 2,120th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2007, when 85 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Krishna in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Nicknames and spellings
Nicknames for Krishna
Famous people named Krishna
2 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Krishna Mohan BanerjeeBengali scholar (1813–1885)
- L. K. AdvaniDeputy Prime Minister of India (2002-2004)
More Sanskrit unisex names
Questions
- What does the name Krishna mean?
- Borrowed from Sanskrit कृष्ण (kṛṣṇa).
- What is the origin of the name Krishna?
- Borrowed from Sanskrit कृष्ण (kṛṣṇa).
- How popular is the name Krishna?
- In 2025, 11 boys born in England and Wales were named Krishna, ranking 2,133rd. Its peak was 2005, with 28 births.
- What are nicknames for Krishna?
- Common nicknames for Krishna include Krish.
- Is Krishna a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 4,291 US babies named Krishna since 1880, 44% were girls and 56% boys.
- When was Krishna most popular?
- 2007 in the United States, when 85 babies were named Krishna, its highest rank at 1,752nd.
- How do you pronounce Krishna?
- Krishna is /ˈkɹɪʃnə/, 2 syllables.
- Is Krishna also a surname?
- Yes. Krishna is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.