The baby name Ashoka is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /əˈʃoːkə/ (uh-SHOH-kuh).
The baby name Ashoka is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /əˈʃoːkə/ (uh-SHOH-kuh).
Ashoka is Indian, Sanskrit in Origin.
Ashoka derives from Sanskrit Aśoka (a- “without” + śoka “sorrow”), giving the auspicious meaning “free from grief” or “one who dispels sorrow.” The name also echoes the revered Aśoka tree (Saraca asoca), celebrated in classical poetry and temple gardens, which symbolizes love and the banishing of sorrow. Common transliterations include Asoka and Ashoka; the palatal ś is often simplified to sh in modern spellings.
Usage is anchored by Ashoka the Great, the 3rd‑century BCE Mauryan emperor whose remorse after the Kalinga war led to his embrace of Buddhism and its spread across Asia; his dharma and wheel (Ashoka Chakra) remain national symbols in India. Variants and regional forms include Ashok (Hindi/Marathi), Ashoke (Bengali), and Asoka (Pali/Sinhala). Predominantly masculine in South Asia, it sees occasional unisex use abroad. Contemporary bearers reflect its pan‑South Asian, Buddhist, and diasporic appeal.
| Ashoka Ashoka, an ancient Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty, is most famous for his role in spreading Buddhism across Asia after the bloody Kalinga War. He ruled from around 268 to 232 BCE and is remembered for his edicts promoting peace and tolerance. |
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MV | Boys | 0 | #77 | 3 | 3,375 |
| AF | Girls | 0 | #94 | 1 | 2,402 |
| QA | 0 | #105 | 2 | 7,011 | |
| OM | 0 | #119 | 3 | 6,215 | |
| CY | Girls | 0 | #124 | 2 | 3,755 |
| CY | Boys | 0 | #131 | 1 | 3,473 |
| AE | 0 | #185 | 3 | 10,220 | |
| JP | Boys | 0 | #302 | 2 | 7,909 |
| SA | 0 | #311 | 2 | 10,560 | |
| KZ | Girls | 0 | #331 | 2 | 5,862 |
| JO | Girls | 0 | #336 | 4 | 7,570 |
| QA | Girls | 0 | #340 | 4 | 15,378 |
| MU | Girls | 0 | #362 | 1 | 8,539 |
| MU | Boys | 0 | #367 | 3 | 8,477 |
| JO | Boys | 0 | #382 | 8 | 7,057 |
| OM | Girls | 0 | #416 | 9 | 15,987 |
| KW | Girls | 0 | #462 | 54 | 19,177 |
| IQ | Girls | 0 | #523 | 3 | 11,303 |
| RU | Girls | 0 | #523 | 1 | 11,913 |
| AE | Girls | 0 | #531 | 23 | 20,968 |
| BH | 0 | #536 | 18 | 17,937 | |
| PS | Girls | 0 | #545 | 3 | 10,981 |
| PS | Boys | 0 | #560 | 2 | 10,655 |
| BD | Boys | 0 | #605 | 1 | 10,045 |
| IN | Girls | 0 | #618 | 14 | 13,121 |
| IL | Boys | 0 | #625 | 1 | 10,983 |
| SG | Girls | 0 | #628 | 5 | 18,916 |
| QA | Boys | 0 | #640 | 68 | 18,093 |
| IL | Girls | 0 | #645 | 1 | 11,648 |
| HK | Girls | 0 | #650 | 1 | 16,104 |
| LB | 0 | #688 | 3 | 13,263 | |
| IQ | Boys | 0 | #696 | 2 | 13,071 |
| KW | Boys | 0 | #713 | 57 | 18,755 |
| SG | Boys | 0 | #735 | 5 | 17,960 |
| BR | Boys | 0 | #785 | 1 | 12,213 |
| NG | Girls | 0 | #826 | 1 | 15,093 |
| OM | Boys | 0 | #841 | 41 | 17,948 |
| IN | Boys | 0 | #872 | 130 | 16,750 |
| United States | Boys | 2020 | #894 | 5 | 7,187 |
| SA | Girls | 0 | #919 | 17 | 25,931 |
| EG | Boys | 0 | #923 | 3 | 15,035 |
| EG | Girls | 0 | #1,008 | 2 | 14,742 |
| AE | Boys | 0 | #1,023 | 70 | 22,615 |
| MY | Boys | 0 | #1,174 | 9 | 25,439 |
| MA | 0 | #1,199 | 1 | 20,986 | |
| MX | Girls | 0 | #1,267 | 1 | 17,781 |
| IT | Boys | 0 | #1,440 | 32 | 10,046 |
| SA | Boys | 0 | #1,519 | 96 | 28,008 |
Ashoka is popular in 30 countries — most recent births per country:
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