Meaning & History
Gyeong-ja is a Korean feminine given name. Like many Korean names, it is composed of two syllables, each with a corresponding hanja (Chinese character). The first element, gyeong, can be written with various hanja; common choices include 慶 (gyeong) meaning “congratulate, celebrate” and 敬 (gyeong) meaning “respect, honour”. The second element, ja, is typically written with the hanja 子 (ja), meaning “child”. Other hanja combinations are also possible.
Etymology and Cultural Context
The ending -ja (from 子) is cognate with the Japanese suffix -ko, which is used in feminine names such as Keiko (the Japanese reading of the same characters). During the period of Japanese rule in Korea (1910–1945), names ending in ja, such as Young-ja and Jeong-ja (also spelled Kyung-ja), became highly fashionable. According to South Korean government data, Gyeong-ja was the third-most popular name for newborn girls in 1940. However, after the end of Japanese rule in 1945, the popularity of Japanese-style names declined sharply, and by 1950 no names ending in ja appeared in the top ten. The name remains in use but is less common today.
Notable Bearers
- Kyung-ja Chun (1924–2015), a prominent South Korean painter known for her abstract expressionist works.
- Choi Kyong-ja (born 1930s), a South Korean table tennis player who won multiple medals in Asian Games and World Championships between 1957 and 1964.
- Na Moon-hee (born Na Kyung-ja, 1941), a celebrated South Korean actress, recipient of the Grand Bell Award and other honors.
- Yi Kyoung-ja (born 1948), a South Korean novelist and writer.
- An Gyeon (born 1979), a South Korean professional golfer better known as a golfer than by her actual name; however, notably, her given name is spelled (sp. An is commonly listed under the less common rendering).