UK boy's name
Krishan
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "dark-skinned" or "dark-complexioned".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Krishan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Krishan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2088, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 39 births.
This profile covers 678 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 28% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 675 living people in the UK are called Krishan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Krishan ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 39 boys were registered as Krishan.
- • Krishan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #403 in 1997.
- • About 675 living people in the UK are estimated to have Krishan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2088
2024
Births in 2024
11
Latest year
Peak year
2007
39 births
Estimated living
675
2026
Meaning
What does Krishan mean?
The name Krishan has its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that was the root of many modern Indian languages. It is derived from the word "Krishna," which means "black" or "dark-colored." This name has a strong connection to Hindu mythology, where it is associated with the Hindu god, Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu.
The name Krishan finds its earliest references in the Hindu sacred texts, such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Puranas, which date back to the ancient times of Indian history. These texts narrate the life and teachings of Lord Krishna, who is revered as a divine figure in Hinduism. The name has been in use in India for centuries, particularly among the Hindu community.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Krishan can be found in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata, which is believed to have been composed between the 8th and 9th centuries BCE. In this epic, the character of Krishna plays a pivotal role, guiding the Pandava princes through the battles of the Kurukshetra war.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Krishan. One of the most famous was Krishan Chandra Bhanja Deo (1835-1914), an Indian ruler and philanthropist who ruled the princely state of Mayurbhanj in Odisha. Another renowned individual was Krishan Kant (1927-2002), an Indian philosopher and writer who made significant contributions to the field of comparative religion and Indian philosophy.
In the realm of arts and culture, the name Krishan has also been celebrated. Krishan Khanna (1925-2022) was an Indian painter and writer, known for his contributions to the modern art movement in India. Krishan Arora (1940-2020) was a renowned Punjabi writer and poet, who received numerous accolades for his literary works.
Krishan Baldev Vaid (1927-1994) was an Indian journalist and writer who served as the editor of The Times of India, one of India's leading English-language newspapers. He was widely respected for his journalistic integrity and commitment to truth.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have carried the name Krishan throughout history, reflecting its deep-rooted cultural and religious significance in Indian society.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Krishan over time
The chart below shows babies named Krishan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Krishan, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 39 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Krishan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Krishan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2745 | 38 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1577 | 202 | 10 |
| 2000s | #771 | 301 | 10 |
| 1990s | #540 | 137 | 4 |
Geography
Where Krishan is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Krishan. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Krishan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #403 in 1997.
Across the UK
Krishan in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#403 in 1997
1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Krishan
-
Krishan Arora
general practitioner
50th member of the NHS's staff to succumb to COVID-19 during the 2020 pandemic
1962-2020
Related
Names similar to Krishan
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Krishan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Krishan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Krishan was ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.
When was Krishan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 39 babies registered as Krishan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Krishan?
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "dark-skinned" or "dark-complexioned".
How many people are called Krishan in the UK?
A total of 678 babies have been registered as Krishan across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.
Where is Krishan most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Krishan ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #403 in 1997. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.