Rising since 1988, #2,108 for boys today.
Popularity of Krishna since 1957
Babies named Krishna per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 10 | 5 |
| 1960s | 86 | 53 |
| 1970s | 391 | 162 |
| 1980s | 254 | 152 |
| 1990s | 452 | 346 |
| 2000s | 385 | 655 |
| 2010s | 235 | 673 |
| 2020s | 93 | 339 |
Meaning & origin
Krishna is a name of profound religious and cultural significance, rooted in ancient Sanskrit and central to Hindu tradition as the name of the deity Lord Krishna. In the United States, the name first appeared on the Social Security Administration's records in 1957, and it has seen a gradual rise in use since 1988. Its peak year came in 2012, when it reached its highest rank. Today, Krishna is still relatively uncommon, with approximately 1 in 24755 newborns receiving the name in 2025. The name is most frequently chosen in states with larger Indian American communities, including Illinois, New York, and Texas. While it is predominantly used for boys, Krishna has also been given to girls, reflecting its unisex appeal. The name's growing trajectory suggests a steady appreciation for its spiritual heritage and melodic sound.
Krishna is derived from the Sanskrit कृष्ण (kṛṣṇa), meaning 'black, dark, dark blue'. The name is central to Hinduism as the name of the eighth avatar of Vishnu and a central figure in the Bhagavad Gita. It has been used as a given name in India for millennia and gained some usage in the West in the 20th century, particularly among followers of the Hare Krishna movement.
Where Krishna is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Krishna” around the world
Where Krishna lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Krish
Sibling names for Krishna
Names that share Krishna's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Radha, Lakshmi, Priya, Anjali, Devi, Ananda, Diya, Rama, Tanvi, Anagha, Gita, Harini, Indra, Jahnavi, Janani, Jayani, Niharika, Nithya, Nitya, Riddhi, Ridhi, Samadhi, Sita, Chandi, Charvi, Dhriti, Gargi, Gayatri, Geeta, Kalyani, Nethra, Rohini, Samhitha, Shakti, Srishti, Varshini, Vedha, Anjani, Apurva, Bhakti, Daksha, Dhrithi, Gayathri, Gowri, Hansini, Kriya, Priyal, Rithanya, Sadhana, Samanvi, Samriddhi, Somya, Sri
Brothers: Arjun, Ravi, Vishnu, Shiva, Rohan, Dhruv, Parth, Siddharth, Surya, Ved, Vedant, Advait, Daksh, Devansh, Dhruva, Eshaan, Hari, Madhav, Moksh, Ram, Rudransh, Shivansh, Shyam, Siddhartha, Sriram, Vedanth, Vihan, Vilas, Vraj, Aadhav, Agasthya, Aniket, Arjuna, Atharva, Avyay, Gyan, Kalyan, Kannan, Mohan, Nakul, Narada, Narayan, Pratyush, Rohith, Saatvik, Saket, Shivay, Skanda, Yogi, Advith, Dhanvin, Ganesh, Govind, Niranjan, Raam, Rishab, Rishikesh, Samyak, Shivaan, Shivaansh, Srihari, Srihith, Venkat, Yashas
