The first name Prakash
A boy’s name from Sanskrit meaning “light”.
2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Sanskrit origin
Prakash means “light” in Sanskrit.
Borrowed from Sanskrit प्रकाश (prakāśa, “light”).
More names that mean light.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
Prakash last appeared in the official list in 1999, given to 5 boys.
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Prakash with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Prakash at birth, 1880–2025
In 2006, 6 boys born in the United States were named Prakash, the 11,696th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1995, when 10 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Prakash
3 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Jagat Prakash Nadda11th President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, born 1960
- Prakash MehraFilm producer and director (1939–2009)
- White TownBritish-Indian singer and musician, born 1966
More Sanskrit boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Prakash mean?
- Prakash means “light” in Sanskrit.
- What is the origin of the name Prakash?
- Borrowed from Sanskrit प्रकाश (prakāśa, “light”).
- How popular is the name Prakash?
- In 1999, 5 boys born in England and Wales were named Prakash, ranking 2,097th.
- When was Prakash most popular?
- 1995 in the United States, when 10 babies were named Prakash, its highest rank at 5,800th.
- Is Prakash also a surname?
- Yes. Prakash is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.