Lord Krishna is called by devotees by many names, these names are mostly based on his virtues, his deeds and his pastimes. Some of Lord Vishnu's names are used as Lord Krishna's names and vice versa.
Below are the names and their meaning. For few names the meanings were not given.
Abhay Charan | Protecting feet |
Abhayankara | Giver of fearlessness |
Abhayasraya | The shelter from fear |
Abhijit/ Abhijeet | Victorious / Conqueror |
Achala | Unmoving |
Achala dharaka | One who held the mountain |
Achyuta | Firm, Infallible |
Adbhuta | Wonder, Bewilderment |
Adhiyajna | Supreme Soul |
Adhoshja | |
Adhikarta | The one who is above the creator |
Adideva | The first Lord, God from the beginning |
Aditya | The son of Aditi |
Agha Damana Chandra | The moon-like Lord who devoured the forest |
Aghasura Vinashi | Slayer of the demon Aghasura |
Ahladini Rupi | One who possesses a blissful form |
Aja | One who never takes birth |
Ajanma | One who has no birth (or death), eternal |
Ajanu Bahu | One whose arms reach to His knees (indicates spiritually advanced state) |
Ajara | He who never grows old |
Ajaya | Unconquerable, Undefeated |
Ajita | The Invincible One |
Ajitatma | The invincible being |
Ajnana hanta | He who destroys ignorance |
Akhilasraya | One who is the shelter of everyone |
Akhilatma | The one who is all pervading |
Akhilesvara | Ruler of everything |
Akincana | One who is without any material desires |
Akrura | One who is not cruel |
Akshara | Imperishable, Indestructible |
Akshaya | Indestructible, Infinite |
Akshobhya | Unshaken by desire |
Alankara | One who is the ornament of Vraja (alankara means decoration) |
Alaya | One who is the abode of beings |
Amala | Pure / Sinless |
Amara | Immortal |
Amrita | Nectar |
Anaadi | Beginningless, First Cause |
Anadi Brahmachari | Beginning less, immersed in devotion to the absolute |
Anandsagara | Ocean of Bliss |
Ananghaya | The sinless one |
Ananta | The Endless Lord, Everlasting |
Anantajita | Ever victorious |
Anaya | Without a leader, Always a leader, the highest |
Aniruddha | One who cannot be obstructed, Unopposed |
Anish | Supreme, ani=Sun and ish=God |
Aparajita | Undefeated |
Avyaya | Unending |
Avyukta | Clear as crystal |
Balagopala | Bala=child, Gopala=cowherd, Son of a Cowherd, Cowherd boy |
BalaGovinda | Baby Govinda |
Balakrishna | Baby Krishna |
Balbhadra Pariyanuj | Balram's younger brother |
Bali | Mighty warrior, The Lord Of Strength |
Banbihari | One who enjoys roaming in the forest |
Ban ke Bihari/ Van Ke Vihari | One who loves to sport in the forests |
Bankima | Curved |
Bansilal | First Lord |
Banwari | |
Barhi Barhavatamsaka | One who adorns peacock feathers |
Bhagirathi Janma Bhoomi Paada Padma | |
Bhaargava | |
Bhadhraayana | |
Bhakthavatsala | Protector of devotee, vatsalya=love / care |
Bhishma mukti Pradayaka | Bestower of salvation to Bhishma |
Bhoothabhavana | |
Brijesha/ Brajesha | Lord of Braja |
Brijmohana | |
Buddhavadhara | |
Chakradhara | The bearer of Sudarshana Chakra |
Chakrapani | Wearer of chakra |
Chaturbhuja | Four-Armed One |
Damodara | Dam=cord, udara=stomach, Lord when he was tied with a rope around his waist |
Danavendra | Lord of Demons (Some also translate it as 'Lord of Daana' that is lord of alms or boons) |
Darsh | |
Daasharha | Of dasharha clan |
Danavendra Vinashaka | Destroyer of king of demons |
Dattatreya | Avatar Dattatreya |
Dayalu | One who is full of compassion |
Dayanidhi | Treasure of compassion |
Deenabandhu/ Dinabandhu | Friend of the afflicted |
Devadideva | God of the Gods, One who existed before the first Gods |
Devakinandan | Son of Devaki |
Devesha | King of Gods, Lord of Gods |
Dhanvantri | Lord of medicine |
Dharmadhyaksha | Lord of Dharma |
Dhaarshyavaha | |
Dhidhivaamana | |
Dhrupad | |
Dhruva | Pole (north/south) |
Dhydhyaanthaka | |
Dinanatha | Refuge of destitutes |
Dravina | The one who has no enemies |
Duryodhana Kulantaka | Destroyer of Duryodhana's dynasty |
Dwarakadisha | Lord of Dwaraka |
Dwarakanatha | Lord of Dwaraka |
Dwarakapati | King of Dwaraka |
Gadhadhra | Bearer of Gadha |
Gadin | |
GajendraVarada | |
Garuda Dhvaja | One who has eagle in his flag |
Garuda vahana | one whose vehicle is eagle |
Gauranga | |
GhanaShyama | Solid Dark, Of the color of the darkest cloud that will soon rain |
Giridhara/ Girivara | One who holds Govardhana Giri (mountain) in his hand |
Giridhari | One who is adorned with mountain in his hand |
Gitamrita Mahodadhi | An ocean containing nectar of Gita |
Gopala/ Gopa | Cowherd, One who protects Cows (One who protects his devotees) |
Gopa Gopishvaraya | Lord of gopas and gopis |
Gopalapriya | One who is loved by Cowherds |
Gopesh | King of gopis |
Gopinatha | Lord of the gopis |
Gopi vastra pararaka | Lord who stole gopis' clothes |
Govardhanadhari | One who held Govardhana hill |
Govardhanchalo Dhartreya | Lifter of Govardhana Hill |
Govinda | |
Govindaraja | King of the cow protectors |
Gulzarilal | |
Gunamaya | Virtueous |
Gunanidhi | Full of virtues, one whose treasure is his virtues |
Gyaneshwara | Lord Of Knowledge, Abode of wisdom |
Hamsa | Clever like the swan which only consumes milk and leaves water |
Hali | One who holds hal |
Hari | Lord who destroys delusion of samsara |
Haresh | Lord of Lords |
Harigopal | Lord who is a cowherd |
Harihar | One Lord who is both Hari (Vishnu) and Hara (Shiva) |
Hayaanana | |
Hiranyagarbha | Golden womb, The womb of all Existence |
Hrishikesha | Lord Of All Senses, He whose hairs consists of the rays of the sun and the moon which give joy to the world |
Ilapataye | Lord of Earth |
Ishvara | lord |
Jagadbandu | Friend/ relative of the whole world |
Jagadguru | Preceptor Of The Universe |
Jagadisha | Lord of the universe |
Jagadh kaarana | First cause of existence |
Jagmohana | |
Jagannatha | King of the universe |
Janardhana | One who protects people, one who has people as his wealth |
Jaspal | |
Jayanta | One who is victorious |
Jayi | victorious |
Jyotiraaditya | The Resplendence Of The Sun |
KaitabasuraMardhana | Slayer of demon Kaitaba |
Kaladeva | |
Kaliyaphani Manikya ranjita | Lord whose lotus feet adorn gems from hood of Kaliya serpent |
Kalki | one who will take kalki avatar |
Kaamajaka | |
Kamalanatha | kamala= lotus, Natha=lord, Lord of Lotus |
Kamalanayana | One whose eyes are as beautiful as Lotus |
Kamsaantaka | Slayer of Kamsa |
Kamsara | Enemy of Kansa |
Kanaiya | |
Kanaka Shyama | Golden |
Kanha | |
Kancha lochanaya | One with beautiful eyes |
Kanjalochana | Lotus Eyed God |
Kannan/ kannen | A Form of Krishna |
Kanu | |
Kanwalkishore | Lotus child |
Kapila | sage kapila (among perfected beings I am the sage Kapila. Gita 10.27) |
Karunarnava | ocean of compassion |
Keshava | one whose Kesa or hair is long, uncut and beautiful, destroyer of demon Keshi, one who is himself the three: kah Brahma; ah Vishnu and Isa Shiva |
Kishan | |
Kishore | Child |
Koti surya samaprabha | One who is as lustrous as million suns, 1 koti=10 million |
Krupamaya | merciful |
Krishna | Cloud Colored God, Consciousness or spirit |
Krishna Vyasana Karshaka | Remover of Draupadi's distress |
Krishnachandra | |
Krishnadeva | |
Krishnakanta | |
Krishnala | |
Krishnamurari | |
Krishnamurthy | |
Krishnendu | |
Krodharoopa | Form of Anger |
Kubja Krishtambharadhara | One who was applied ointment by a dwarf woman |
Kunj-bihari | Enjoyer of Lakes |
Kurmathana | |
Lakshmikaanta | Husband of Of Goddess Lakshmi |
Lakshmi Pati | Husband of Lakshmi |
Leelamaanusha Vigraha | Devine in human form |
Lilamaya | One who is full of pleasing pastimes |
Lokadhyaksha | Lord Of all the three worlds |
Madana | Lord of Love, cupid |
Madana Mohana | |
Madhava | Lord of Mouna+Dhyana+Yoga |
Madhughne | Killer of demon Madhu |
Madhuribhav | |
Madhusudan | Slayer Of Demon Madhu |
Mahendra | Lord of Gods, (Maha+Indra=Bigger than Indra, the leader of god), one who has his senses (indriya) under his control |
Makhesh | |
Manamohana | Pleasing to the heart, (man=mind, mohana=attractive) |
Manikanta | wearer of Kaustubh Mani |
Manohara | Beautiful, Attractive, Winner of hearts |
Mathura Naresh | King of birth city Mathura |
MatsyaRoopa | One who took Matsya avatar |
Mayura | Peacock, Lord who is adorned with peacock feather |
Meghashyam | Cloud Dark |
Mohana | Attractive one |
MohanaroopaDhari | One with attractive form |
Mohnish | |
Mukunda | |
Murali | Lord who plays flute |
Murari/ Morari | killer of the demon Mora |
Muralidhara | One who wears Flute |
Murarilal | |
Muralimanohara | Attractive one who has a flute in his hand |
Mushtikasura Chanura mallayudha visharada | One who is an expert wrestler, killed two demons Mushtikasura and Chanura |
NagaShayan | One whose bed is Adishesha |
Naggar | |
Nandagopala | Son of Nanda a Gopala |
Nandgopa Priyatmaj | Nanda Gopa's darling child |
Nandakishora | Son of Nanda |
Nandakumara | Son of Nanda |
Nanda Lal | Beloved of Nanda |
Nandana | |
Nandvraja jana nandin | One bringing joy to Nand and people of Braj |
Narakantaka | Slayer of Narakasura |
Narayana | The One who rests on Water (narah) or One who rests in Consciousness which pervades the Resting place for all living entities |
Narottama | The best of beings (humans) |
Natha | Lord/ protector |
Natwar | Dancing lord |
Navanit Viliptanga | Lord whose body is smeared with butter |
Navaneethachora | One who steels butter |
Neelesh | Blue lord, one who is like moon |
Neela megha shyama | Dark blue cloud colored |
Niranjana | Unblemished one, faultless |
Nirguna | One who is not bound by three gunas: Satva, Rajas and Tamas |
Nityananda | Ever happy |
Nrukesari | male Lion on earth, king of the world |
Paanchajanyadhara | One who holds paanchajanya |
Padmahasta | One who is holding Lotus in his hand |
Padmanabha | One who has Lotus shaped navel |
Panduranga | |
Pannagashana | One whose resting place is serpent Adishesha |
Paraathpara | |
Parabrahma | The ultimate conscious being |
Paramatma | The ultimate Soul, The one and only existence |
Paramapurusha | Supreme Personality |
Parameshvara | The highest God |
Parasmai jyotish | One with a supreme light |
Parijatapa Harakaya | |
Parthasarathi | Charioteer Of Arjuna |
Patitapavana | Purifier of the fallen |
Pinaki | |
Pita vasase | One wearing yellow robes |
Pitambharadhara | One wears silk |
Pradyumna | |
Prahladha Paripalaka | protector of prahlada |
Prahmajanka | |
Prajapati | Lord of all creatures |
Pundarikaksha | Lotus eyed one |
Punyah | Pure |
Punya-Shlokaya | Lord whose praise bestows merit |
Purushottama | Supreme Personality |
Pyarelal | Loved one |
Pyaremohan | Very much loved and attractive |
Radha Vallabha | Lover of Radha |
Radhakanta | Sweetheart of Radha (Radha represents devotee, thus the protector, lover, friend of Devotee) |
Radhakrishna | Sweetheart of Radha, inseparable from Radha |
Radha Ramana | Lover of Radha |
Radha-vallabha | Sweetheart of Radha |
Radhesh | Sweetheart of Radha |
Radheshyam | Radha's Krishna |
Rajagopala | King of Cowherds |
Rajivalochan | |
Ramanuja | Anuja=younger brother, in this context probably means 'the avatar after Rama' |
Ramakrishna | Lord who is both Rama and krishna, who is the same |
Ranchhodrai | Ran—battle, Chhod—leave, Rai- King, One who fled from battle |
Rasbihari | Enjoyer of Ras, Ras=attractive, Ras=juice, Ras=flavor, Ras=joy |
Rasesh | Lord of joy |
Raseshvara | Lord of joy |
Rasmaru | |
Ravilochana | One Whose Eye Is The Sun |
Rushabha | Ox |
Rohanlal | |
Rukminesha | Husband of Rukmini |
Ravilochana | One with the eyes shining like the sun |
Sachidanand Vigraha | Embodiment of existence, Awareness and bliss |
Saket | very close to Heaven |
Sahasraakash | Lord with thousand eyes (one who is omniscient) |
Sahasrajita | One who has been victorious over thousands |
Sahasrapaat | One who has thousand foot |
Sakshi | One who is Witnessing everything, one who is the observer of everything |
Sansara vaiti | Destroyer of delusion of samsaara |
SamudraMadhana | |
SanakathiMunithyeya | |
Sanatana | Eternal one |
Sangarshana | |
SankaraPriya | |
Santhana | The sweet child |
Sanwariya | |
Sarathy | Charioteer of Arjuna |
Sarvabhutata makaya | |
Sarvajna | Omniscient |
Sarvagraha Rupi | All objects are his form |
Sarvapalaka | Protector Of All beings |
Sarveshwara | Lord Of All beings |
Satya sankalpa | Lord of true resolve |
Satyabhama Rataya | Lover of Satyabhama |
Satyanarayana | Sat=ultimate reality, narayana=resting in consciousness |
Satyavachana/ satyavacha | One who speaks only the truth |
Satyavrata | One who is virtuous all the time |
sawale | |
Shaarangapana | |
Shaanthathma | blissful soul, peaceful soul |
Shakatsura Bhanjanaya | Destroyer of demon Shakatasur |
Shanta | Peaceful , blissful |
Sheerabdhisaayi | |
Shishupala Shirascratte | Remover of Shishupal's head |
Shreshta | Glorious , Grand one, above everyone else |
Shrigopala | shri=goddess lakshmi |
Shrihari | |
Shrikaanta | Husband of Goddess Lakshmi |
Shrikrishna | |
Shrinath | |
Shyama | Dark-Complexioned, Cloud Colored |
Shyamsundara | Cloud Colored and beautiful, One with the beauty of evening |
Siddhanta | Principle, philosophy |
Siddhidhikarthru | |
Simsumaara | |
Sridhara | One who is adorned with wealth/ lakshmi |
Srikhara | |
Srimat | |
Srinivasa | |
Srivathkausthubhadhra | wearing kausthubha |
Subhadra purvajaya | elder brother of Subhadra |
Sudarshana | (su=good,darshana=appearing) ,Pleasing to eyes, One who is holding sudarshana chakra |
Sudhapradha | One who gave ambrosia to gods |
Sukavag Amritabhdhindave | Ocean of nectar |
Sumedha | Lord with great intelligence |
Suresha | Sura=demigods, Isha=lord, Lord of gods |
SuryaChandraVilochana | |
Suryamandala Madhyaka | |
Svayam Bhagavan | Lord |
Svetavaasdhavya | |
Swargapati | Lord of the heaven |
Tharakaantha | |
Thridham | |
Tirthapadaya | One whose feet are holy |
Tirthayaad | |
Tribhangi lalitakritaye | Lord who poses bent in 3 places |
Trivikrama | Ruler of the three worlds |
Upendra | Younger brother of Indra who is the lord of haven |
Vaamana | |
Vaikunthanatha | Lord of Vaikuntha, One who resides in Vaikuntha |
Vanamalin | One wearing a sylvan garland |
Vansidhar | |
Vardhamaana | The Formless Lord |
Vasudeva | Lord of all earthly beings |
Vasumat | |
Vasupati | |
Vatsapal | |
Vedamohan | Knower of vedas |
Vedathma | One whose soul is veda |
Vedvedayaya | Source of Vedas |
Veni | one who is holding flute |
Venimadhav | |
Venu Gopala | cowherd holding flute |
venunada visharada | expert in flute tunes |
Vibhavasu | sun |
Vibhumat | |
Vidurakrura Varada | Giver of boon to Vidura and Akrura |
Vihari | Enjoyer |
Vishnu | Victorious, one with the valour of winner of all three worlds, All Prevailing |
Vishwadakshinah | Skillful |
Vishwakarma | Creator Of The Universe |
Vishwamurti | One who has Entire Universe as his form |
Vishwarupa | One Who showed his Universal Form to his friend and desciple Arjuna |
Vishwarupa Pradarshaka | Revealer of Universal form |
Vishwatma | One who has Entire Universe as his soul |
Viswambara | |
Vitaharya | |
Vitthala | |
Vithoba | |
Vrajakishore | Child of Vraj |
Vrajalal | |
Vrajanadan | |
Vrajesh | Lord of Vraj |
Vrajmohan | |
Vrajraj | |
Vrisa | |
Vrishabhasura vidhvamsi | slayer of demon Vrishaba |
Vrishaparvaa | Lord Of Dharma |
Yadava | |
Yadavendra | King of the Yadava clan |
Yadudvataya | Leader of Yadus |
Yadunandan | Of Yadu clan |
Yadunath | protector of yadus |
Yaduraj | King of yadus |
Yaduvira | Valiant one of yadus |
Yajnarupa | One who is as pure as yajna, One whose form is Yajna |
Yagnabhokta | One who consumes merits of yajna |
Yamuna Vega Samhari | Destroyer of speed of River yamuna |
Yashoda Nandana | Son of yashodha |
Yashoda-Vatsalya | darling child of yashodha |
Yogeshwara | the Lord of the Yogis |
Yogi/ Yogin | One who has attained oneness with consciousness |
Yoginampati | Exalted yogi, among the highest of yogis, sage |
Yogi Pati | Lord of yogis |
Yudhishthira pratishthatre | One who established Yudhisthira back as king |
Also see the pictures of Shri Krishna's pastimes:
http://krishnaseva.blogspot.com/2013/05/pictures-of-krishna-set-2.htmlhttp://krishnaseva.blogspot.com/2013/03/pictures-of-krishna-leela.html