Notable people with the name Padmanabhan include:
C. M. Padmanabhan Nair, an Indian politician
Dayal Padmanabhan, an Indian film director and producer
Govindarajan Padmanabhan, a renowned biochemist and a pioneer in Indian biotechnology
Manjula Padmanabhan, a playwright, journalist, comic strip artist, and children's book author
Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai, an Indian social reformer and a freedom fighter
Mohan Padmanabhan, an Indian economist and journalist
Neela Padmanabhan, a Tamil writer
Padmanabhan Balaram, an Indian biochemist
Padmanabhan Nair, an eminent Kathakali exponent
Padmanabhan Palpu, a bacteriologist and social revolutionary
Padmanabhan Sivadas, an Indian cricketer
Sundararajan Padmanabhan, the former Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army
Thanu Padmanabhan, an Indian theoretical physicist
Thinakkal Padmanabhan, a short story writer
Uma Padmanabhan, a Tamil socialite, actress and news presenter
Vijay Padmanabhan, a law professor
