Prabhakar

Prabhakar is a masculine given name of Indian origin. It derives from Sanskrit prabha, meaning light or radiance, and kar, meaning doer or maker, together conveying the sense of a bearer of light or radiance. The name is used across many Indian languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Assamese, and it appears both as a first name and, less commonly, as a surname. Variants and transliterations include Prabakar, Prabhakara, and Prabhakarah, reflecting regional pronunciation differences.

In terms of usage, Prabhakar is widely adopted throughout India and is common among the Indian diaspora. It is found among people in diverse professions, including politics, cinema, science, education, and business. As with many Indian names, it can carry cultural and familial significance and may be chosen to honor relatives or religious or regional traditions.

Notable references to Prabhakar appear in literature and media, and many individuals with the name have gained recognition in public life. Because Prabhakar can function as both a given name and a surname, disambiguation is often required in biographical and encyclopedic contexts to identify a specific person.

See also: Prabhakara, Prabhakar (surname), Prabakar. These variants reflect regional spelling differences and related name forms.