This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance
- Meaning
- Dark, black
- Origin
- Sanskrit
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- KRISH-nah
Krishna is a Sanskrit name for boys, pronounced KRISH-nah, that comes across as classic and worldly. Its literal Sanskrit meaning is 'dark, black.' You'll often hear it said to mean 'all-attractive,' but that is a devotional interpretation popularized by Vaishnava and ISKCON teaching, not the literal meaning.
Meaning & Origin of Krishna
Meaning: Dark, black.
Origin: Sanskrit.
A common claim: often said to mean 'all-attractive' Actually: 'All-attractive' is a devotional interpretation popularized by Vaishnava/ISKCON teaching, not the literal Sanskrit meaning, which is 'dark, black.'
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Krishna
KRISH-nahIPA /ˈkrɪʃnə/
Popularity of Krishna
Krishna peaked at #1530 in 1971, with 65 babies given the name. In 2024 it ranked #2406 with 58 babies, so it has slipped in rank but is still given to a steady handful of boys each year.
Names Like Krishna
These names share Krishna’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Krishna mean?
Dark, black. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Krishna?
Krishna is pronounced KRISH-nah (IPA: /ˈkrɪʃnə/).
Is Krishna a popular name right now?
Krishna peaked at #1530 in 1971 and is ranked #2406 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1957–2024.)
Make Krishna Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Krishna, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Krishna? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →
