Boy · Tamil (from Prakrit Kaṇha, Sanskrit Kṛṣṇa) · Tamil · Hindu
Kannan
கண்ணன்Say it KUN-nun
- Meaning
- Krishna; also Vishnu Tamil Lexicon, p. 693
- Say it
- KUN-nun
- Written
- கண்ணன்
Kannan
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Kannan meaning
Kannan (கண்ணன்) is a Tamil and Hindu boy's name.
Krishna; also Vishnu
Kannan (கண்ணன்) is the Tamil name for Krishna. The Tamil Lexicon traces kaṇṇaṉ through Prakrit Kaṇha to Sanskrit Kṛṣṇa and records it as a name of Krishna and of Vishnu, citing the Vaishnava hymns of the Tiruvāymoḻi. Because kaṇ means "eye" in Tamil, the name is sometimes explained as "the one who is seen", but the Lexicon treats it as Krishna's own name in Tamil dress. Subramania Bharati's poem cycle Kaṇṇaṉ Pāṭṭu addresses Krishna as Kannan in many roles. The name is used mainly in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Sri Lanka.
In Hindu tradition this is a name of Krishna.
Source: Tamil Lexicon, University of Madras (1924–36), p. 693 · entry kaṇṇaṉ² (கண்ணன்) · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Tamil Lexicon, kaṇṇaṉ (கண்ணன்), p. 693 · Wikipedia, Kannan · Monier-Williams, kṛṣṇa, p. 306