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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).

01530 1996200020052010201520202025
GirlsBoys
687
babies named Krishna, 1996–2025
#2,133
rank in 2025
2005
peak year

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.

04590 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
GirlsBoys
4,291
babies named Krishna since 1880
#2,120
rank in 2025
2007
peak year

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

克里希納
Kèlǐxīnà
Chinese
Κρίσνα
Krísna
Greek
कृष्ण
kŕṣṇa
Hindi
クリシュナ
Kurishuna
Japanese
크리슈나
Keurisyuna
Korean
Кри́шна
Kríšna
Russian

Nicknames and spellings

Nicknames for Krishna

Famous people named Krishna

2 on Wikidata, most written-about first

  • Krishna Mohan Banerjee
    Bengali scholar (1813–1885)
  • L. K. Advani
    Deputy 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.