Prashant (Devanagari: प्रशान्त) is a common boys' name in India and Nepal. It is derived from the word "shant" which means quiet, or tranquil. There are two theories as to the origin of the name. The first is simply that adding "pra" creates a superlative of "shant", so it can be thought of as meaning "Great Peace" (cf. Chinese Taiping). The other is that it is a combination of two words: "Param" + "Shant" = Prashant. Of note, the Pacific Ocean is called the Prashant Mahasagar (प्रशान्त महासागर) in Hindi and Nepali, with the term "Prashant" being used to translate the English word "pacific". There is a difference between 'Ocean" and "Gulf", former being bigger. "Pacific" is an "Ocean" which is deepest and largest and supposedly "Calmest". Prashant can also mean "Prabhat ki shanti" - Meaning the calmness, peace and quietness just before dawn. In southern states if India the name Prashant is also spelled as Prasanth while the pronounciation remains the same. One more meaning that can be associated to name "Prashant" is Serious. Where "kant" means Light or aura.