Krishna

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Fact sheet

Name
Krishna
Gender
Boy name
Syllables
2

The first name Krishna has Indian roots. In the German translation, it means 'the Black' or 'the Blue-Black'.

What does the name Krishna mean?

The name Krishna originates from India and is translated in German as 'the Black' and 'the Blue-Black'. Its roots lie in Sanskrit, where kṛṣṇa (कृष्ण) means 'black' and 'dark'. In Hinduism, Krishna holds a significant position as he is worshipped as a god and also regarded as an incarnation of Vishnu. He represents the central essence of all things and souls (atmas). Other variants of the name include Kishan and Krischna.

Where does the name Krishna come from?

The name Krishna has its roots in Sanskrit and means 'the Black'.

How do you pronounce Krishna?

The pronunciation of Krishna is two syllables and features a distinctive consonant structure. In the German version, the name is usually articulated as 'Krisch-na' [ˈkʁɪʃna]. It begins with a dense consonant cluster of K and R, giving the name a powerful presence. The sh sound in the first syllable provides a gentle friction before the final A opens the sound. Krishna sounds intense yet fluid – spiritually charged, characterful, and phonetically distinctive.

Popularity

In Germany, the name Krishna enjoys great popularity and currently ranks 2,073rd on the list of the most common male first names. In the last ten years, Krishna has been given as a first name approximately 50 times, placing it 3,350th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 3,229th. Worldwide, Krishna also appears in the name charts of various countries.

Nicknames & pet names

Krishi / Krishni / Krishnu

Famous people

  • Arvind Krishna Mehrotra (Indian writer)
  • Attoor Krishna Pisharody (scholar from India)
  • Bolanthur Krishna Prabhu (writer from India)
  • Ghanam Krishna Iyer (composer)
  • K. Krishna Mohan (Indian hurdler)
  • K. V. Krishna Iyer (writer from India)
  • Krishna (incarnation of God in Hinduism)
  • Krishna Bhagavan (Indian actor)
  • Krishna Chandra Panigrahi (archaeologist from India)
  • Krishna Chandran (Indian cricketer)
  • Krishna Gundopant Ginde (Indian composer)
  • Krishna Kanta Handique (scholar)
  • Krishna Kumar (Indian actor)
  • Krishna Prabha (actor)
  • Krishna Prasad Dar (writer from India)
  • Krishna Rao (American film director)
  • Krishna Thapa (football manager from Nepal)
  • Madan Krishna Shrestha (actor from Nepal)
  • Malladi Venkata Krishna Murthy (writer from India)
  • Mohan Krishna Indraganti (Indian film director)

Frequently asked questions about the name Krishna

What does the name Krishna mean?

The name Krishna means in German 'the Black' or 'the Blue-Black' and has its origin in Sanskrit, where kṛṣṇa means 'black' and 'dark'.

Where does the name Krishna come from?

Krishna has its roots in Sanskrit and is widespread in many Indian languages such as Hindi, Bengali, and Tamil.

How popular is the name Krishna?

Krishna is a traditional name in India and has a high cultural significance, making it very popular in many communities.

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