UK boy's name
Krishen
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "dark" or "black".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Krishen is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Krishen popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4702, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 5 births.
This profile covers 27 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 1996 to 2019. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 27 living people in the UK are called Krishen. 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 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Krishen ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 5 boys were registered as Krishen.
- • About 27 living people in the UK are estimated to have Krishen as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4702
2019
Births in 2019
3
Latest year
Peak year
2000
5 births
Estimated living
27
2026
Meaning
What does Krishen mean?
The name Krishen is a variant of the Sanskrit name Krishna, which has its roots in Hinduism and Indian culture. The name Krishna is derived from the Sanskrit word "krish," which means "black" or "dark," referring to the dark complexion of Lord Krishna, a prominent deity in Hinduism.
The name Krishna is associated with the Hindu god, Lord Krishna, who is an avatar (incarnation) of the supreme deity, Vishnu. Lord Krishna is revered in Hindu scriptures, such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Mahabharata, where he is portrayed as a divine figure who imparts wisdom and guidance to humanity.
One of the earliest historical references to the name Krishna can be found in the Mahabharata, an ancient Sanskrit epic composed between the 8th and 9th centuries BCE. In this epic, Krishna is depicted as a central character who plays a pivotal role in the events of the Kurukshetra War.
Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Krishen or its variations. One of the most famous was Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529 CE), a renowned ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire in South India. He was known for his patronage of art, literature, and architecture, and his reign is often considered a golden age in the history of the region.
Another notable figure was Krishnaraja Wadiyar III (1794-1868 CE), the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, who was known for his progressive reforms and efforts to modernize his kingdom. He was also a patron of literature and the arts.
In the field of music, Krishen Khanna (1925-2022 CE) was a celebrated Indian artist and painter, known for his contributions to the modern art movement in India. His works are renowned for their bold colors and abstract forms.
Krishen Jit Arora (1928-2019 CE) was a prominent Indian author and playwright, recognized for his contributions to Punjabi literature. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award, one of India's highest literary honors, for his novel "Akkhar" in 1965.
Krishen Iyer (1911-1984 CE) was an Indian politician and freedom fighter who played an active role in the Indian independence movement. He served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and was involved in drafting the Indian Constitution.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Krishen over time
The chart below shows babies named Krishen registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Krishen, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Krishen by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Krishen 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4678 | 9 | 3 |
| 2000s | #2938 | 15 | 4 |
| 1990s | #2863 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Krishen
- 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
Krishen: questions and answers
How popular is the name Krishen in the UK right now?
In 2019, Krishen was ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Krishen most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 5 babies registered as Krishen in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Krishen?
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "dark" or "black".
How many people are called Krishen in the UK?
A total of 27 babies have been registered as Krishen across the 8 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.