Yeong

Yeong (also spelled Young) is a Korean given name that can be used for both males, but is more commonly feminine. It is derived from Sino-Korean characters, primarily 英 (yeong), meaning "flower, petal, brave, hero". However, there are 43 hanja with the reading yeong on the South Korean government's official list for given names, as well as 28 with the reading ryeong and six with nyeong, each carrying different meanings (e.g., 永 'eternal', 榮 'glory'). The meaning of a name depends on which hanja is used.

Usage in Korean Names

Yeong usually occurs in combination with another character in two-syllable given names, where it can be the first or second syllable. Common combinations include Young-ho (勇昊 'brave sky') and Yeong-sook (英淑 'heroic virtuous'). As a stand-alone given name, it is less common but still used. The phonetic similarity has also given rise to variant romanizations such as Yong and Yung.

Notable Bearer

Yeong gained recognition through Jang Yeong-sil (장영실), a 15th-century Korean scientist and inventor under King Sejong the Great. Jang is remembered for designing the Cheugugi (rain gauge), the water clock, and astronomical instruments, a testimony to Korea's scientific innovations. His given name Yeong (英) means "flower" or "hero".

Cultural and Historical Context

In Korean naming tradition, hanja (Chinese characters) are chosen for their auspicious meanings and phonetic qualities. The prevalence of yeong-ric names, especially in the second syllable, reflects a preference for virtue (忠 loyalty, 信 trust), nature (花 flower), and heroic qualities (勇 bravery). The name parallels similar naming conventions in other East Asian cultures: Chinese Yong/Rong, Vietnamese Anh (英 'hero') and Vinh (榮 'glory'), and borrowed Japanese Ei/Yoshi, all sharing the same hanja root.

Related Forms

Yeong is related to several other East Asian given names through shared hanja: Chinese Ying and Rong, Vietnamese Anh and Vinh, and Korean variant Young

• Meaning: "flower, petal, brave, hero" (common hanja 英) or varied based on specific hanja
• Origin: Sino-Korean; 43 possible hanja on official list
• Type: Unisex given name (more feminine); also common compound element
• Usage: South Korea; historical ties to Chinese Yíng, Vietnamese Anh/Vinh