Asok

Asok is a masculine given name used in South Asia, often a variant spelling of Ashok or Ashoka. It derives from Sanskrit a- (not) and shoka (sorrow), meaning "without sorrow" or "free from sorrow." The name is common in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, and is also found among diaspora communities around the world. Variant spellings include Ashok, Ashoka, and Asoka.

Historically, the name is associated with Ashoka the Great, the Mauryan emperor who ruled in ancient India and is celebrated for promoting Buddhism and the spread of his edicts. In modern usage, Asok and its variants are given to boys with regional and linguistic differences influencing the preferred spelling and pronunciation.

Asok is also the name of a fictional character in the Dilbert comic strip created by Scott Adams. The character appears as an Indian intern at the office and is used in storylines to explore cross-cultural humor and workplace dynamics. Asok is one of the earlier recurring figures in the series.

See also: Ashok, Ashoka, Asokan.