Punnoose is the Syriac-Malayalam version of Stephen. Derived from Esthapannose, another less used variant of it is Pannose. As a first name not often used recently, it is often mistaken as a surname due to the practice of many Syriac Christians of Kerala using their father's first name as their surname in modern times. Notable people who use it as a surname include:
Jacob Punnoose, police official Jijo Punnoose, Indian film director, producer and actor Maliampurackal Chacko Punnoose (1924–2012), Indian film producer, director, and entrepreneur P.T. Punnoose (1911–1971), Indian politician Rosamma Punnoose (1913–2013), Indian independence activist, politician, and lawyer