Ji-yeong

Ji-yeong (also spelled Ji-young or Jee-young) is a common Korean given name, historically among the most popular for baby girls in South Korea, ranking first in 1970, third in 1980, and tenth in 1990 according to government data.

Etymology

The name is formed from Chinese characters (hanja). Common combinations include 智 (ji, “wisdom, intellect”) or 知 (ji, “know, perceive”) combined with 英 (yeong, “flower, petal, brave, hero”) or 榮 (yeong, “glory, honour, flourish, prosper”). Many other hanja combinations are possible, and the choice of characters often reflects parental wishes for the child’s virtues.

The name Ji-yeong is closely related to the variant Ji-young, which represents a different American-style romanization of the same Korean pronunciation. In South Korea, both spellings are used interchangeably in English contexts.

Notable Bearers

Notable individuals with this name include Mo Ji-yeong (born 1964), a South Korean field hockey player; Pearl Sinn (born Sinn Ji-young, 1967), a professional golfer; and several entertainers such as actress Kim Ji-young (born 1938) and actress Park Ji-young (born 1969). The name is also borne by a variety of athletes in baseball, volleyball swimming and golf in South Korea.

• Meaning: wisdom, intellect, or know combined with flower, hero, or glory (and other hanja combinations)
• Origin: Korean (Sino-Korean)
• Type: First name
• Popularity: Top name for girls in 1970s-1990s in South Korea
• Regional usage: Primarily South Korea; used across Korean diaspora