prakash

Prakash is a name of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit prakāśa, meaning light, brightness, or illumination. The term has been adopted as a given name across many Indian languages and is sometimes used as a surname in some communities. The root prakāśa comes from the verb prakāśati, meaning to shine or to be bright.

As a given name, Prakash is widely used among speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. Variants and transliterations include Prakāśa, Parkash, and Prakashan. In some regions, the name is also found in compound forms such as Prakashkumar or Prakashan, which may function as given names or initials in formal contexts. The name is common in the Indian diaspora and in countries with Indian immigrant communities.

In cultural usage, Prakash connotes light, warmth, and vitality. It is often chosen for its positive associations with brightness and guidance. The name crosses religious and regional boundaries within the Indian subcontinent.

Notable individuals with the name include Prakash Raj, an Indian actor and filmmaker; Prakash Padukone, a former world-class badminton player and father of actress Deepika Padukone; Prakash Jha, a film director and producer; and Prakash Karat, a former leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). While these figures highlight the name’s prominence, Prakash remains a common given name and, less frequently, a surname, with many people bearing the name in various walks of life.