Krishna
Krishna is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is widely revered among Hindu divinities.
- Hinduism
- Hindi
- Marathi
- Bengali
Meaning & Origin of Krishna
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Krishna is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is widely revered among Hindu divinities.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Hinduism
- Hindi
- Marathi
- Bengali
- Gujarati
- Telugu
- Tamil
- Kannada
- Malayalam
- Nepali
The Story of Krishna
As a girl name
American parents first put Krishna on the record books as a girl name in 1958, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1971, when 65 Krishnas were born — ranking #1,528 that year. The 1990s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 23% of all recorded Krishnas. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #6,359 among girl names with 18 births, gradually rising (+13%). In total, more than 2K Krishnas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Krishna as a boy name dates back to 1957, when 5 babies received it. 2007 was its biggest year on record, with 85 newborns named Krishna — #1,740 in the national rankings. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 28% of all recorded Krishnas. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #2,417 among boy names with 58 births, holding steady (-4%). In total, more than 2K Krishnas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Krishna
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Krishna. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Krishna
Phonetically similar names — useful when Krishna is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Krishna
What does the name Krishna mean?
What is the origin of the name Krishna?
How popular is Krishna in 2026?
When was Krishna most popular?
In which U.S. states is Krishna most popular?
Is Krishna a unisex name?
What names go well with Krishna?
What are nicknames or variants of Krishna?
About the name Krishna
Krishna is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1957 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Krishna's peak popularity came in 2007 when it ranked #1,653. Use the chart and map above to compare Krishna's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2007 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "K" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.