Boy · Malayalam and Sanskrit · Hindu
Unnikrishnan
उण्णिकृष्णनSay it oon-ni-KRISH-nun
- Meaning today
- Little Krishna, young Krishna
- Original meaning
- "the child Krishna; uṇṇi 'infant' with Kṛṣṇa" Hermann Gundert, p. 127
- Say it
- oon-ni-KRISH-nun
- Written
- उण्णिकृष्णन
- Other spellings
- Unnikrishna
- First sound
- उ · Vrishabh rashi
Unnikrishnan
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Unnikrishnan meaning
Unnikrishnan (उण्णिकृष्णन) is a Hindu boy's name of Malayalam and Sanskrit origin. By its first sound, उ, it is a Vrishabh rashi name (Krittika nakshatra) in the North Indian table.
The child Krishna; uṇṇi 'infant' with Kṛṣṇa
Also used to mean: little Krishna, young Krishna
Unnikrishnan (उण्णिकृष्णन) means the child Krishna. It joins Malayalam uṇṇi, which Gundert defines as a suckling or infant, with Kṛṣṇa, given the usual Malayalam -an ending. Kerala has a deep devotion to Krishna as a child, above all at the Guruvayur temple, where he is loved as Unnikannan, and Unnikrishnan is a Malayali boys' name. Well-known bearers include the singer P. Unnikrishnan and the actor Oduvil Unnikrishnan.
In Hindu tradition this is a name of Krishna.
Source: Hermann Gundert, A Malayalam and English Dictionary (1872), p. 127 · entry uṇṇi · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Gundert, uṇṇi, p. 127 · Monier-Williams, kṛṣṇa, p. 306 · Wikipedia, Unnikrishnan · Wikipedia, Unni (Indian name)
Famous namesakes
- P. Unnikrishnan, Carnatic and film singer
- Oduvil Unnikrishnan, Malayalam film actor
Fits your syllable
First sound उ
Krittika nakshatra, pada 3 · Vrishabh rashi
North Indian table. Tables vary by region and family tradition, so confirm with your priest.
Spellings
Unnikrishnan · Unnikrishna