munna

Munna is a common masculine name and nickname used in South Asia, particularly in India and Pakistan. Derived as an affectionate diminutive, it roughly translates to “little one” or “boy” and is often used as a nickname for someone named Muhammad or Munawar, among other possibilities. In everyday usage, Munna functions as a casual, friendly appellation and appears across several languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Marathi, and Bengali.

In popular culture, Munna is best known as the name of a fictional character in Indian cinema. Sanjay Dutt’s portrayal of Munna Bhai in the comedy-drama Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003) formed the basis for a sequel, Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006). The character and films are noted for blending humor with social commentary, and the name Munna Bhai became a recognizable archetype in contemporary Indian film. Beyond this portrayal, the given name or nickname Munna has appeared in other Indian films, television, and songs as a character name or title, reflecting its broad recognizability in the region.

Because Munna is primarily a transliterated nickname rather than a formal given name, it is widespread in spoken language and among speakers of multiple South Asian languages. Variant spellings in English transliteration include Munna and Muna.