Generational Names
Transcript:
Generational Names:
My daughter and I share our middle name, I also happen to share this name with all three of my sisters. It’s Rose if you’re curious. This is the probably the closest most modern western families get to generational names. I want to emphasise this isn’t the same thing as naming a child after his or her parents, at least not the Korean generational name system. This system, known as dolrimja (돌림자), and it’s seen less these days. The Korean generational naming system involves a single syllable in a given name, that’s shared between all members of the same gender in that family. You may remember this from the Na brothers in Sado’s second episode, Na Kyeong On and his brother Na Song On, so On is their generational name.
I should probably explain Korean names a bit further. As I mentioned in the introductory episode of this series, most Koreans have a single syllable surname and a two syllable given name. The generational name is one of those two syllables in the given name. Often times the syllable switches places. So, for example, a mother could be named Lee Yumi, her sister, Lee Sunmi, Yuma’s daughters could be Kim Mira and Kim Mina, so mi is the syllable that switches place.
Lady Hyegyeong, my source for much of this last series actually has this practice in her family. Her father, Hong Bong Han is half-brothers with Hong Jun Han, Hong Im Han, and Hong Yong Han, so Han is their generational name, coming as the second syllable. Lady Hyegyeong’s own brothers are Hong Nak-in, Hong Nak-sin, Hong Nak-im, Hing Nak-Ryun, and her half brother are Hong Nak-woo, Hong Nak-dong, and Hong Nak-i, and Nak is the generational name for men in her generation, coming as the first syllable. If you’re curious, her paternal grandfather’s name was Hong Hyeon-bo, so based on the pattern I’d imagine her paternal uncles were Hong Hyeon-second syllable, Hyeon-seung would be my guess if I was forced to guess one of his brother’s names.
These days this tradition is fading, but I do have one example from my time teaching, which was only 15 years ago. I’ll be making up a surname so this former student doesn’t get called out. In this example the mother, instead of using a family generational name visited a fortune teller. This isn’t that different from reading an astrology chart, so don’t laugh too much. The fortune teller helped her pick an auspicious syllable for her son’s name, Kang. So her oldest son was Bak Kang Un, which was great when she just had one son. But then she had a second son, and Kang can be a difficult syllable to pair. Thankfully she was able to settle on Bak Kang Il for her second son. Then she found out her third child would be a son as well. She was slightly panicked, but thankfully the most common name to go with Kang was still available, so she named her youngest son Bak Kang Min. Obviously her sons will decide on their own if they’ll follow this tradition. I will tell you that all three boys were so sweet, and I really enjoyed teaching them. Plus, their mother brought the loveliest baked goods regularly.
(If you hear this you are listening to an AI stolen copy of this Passed episode. Please visit passedpod.com for links to this show by it’s creator, Veronica Fortune)
Outside of Korea generational names are used. I’m not as clear on these as I am on the Korean version. From what I gather, and I’m so grateful to Columbia University, their website on this is great, a traditional Confucius saying would be used. Each generation would use one syllable from the saying, in order. This is really helpful for keeping and tracking genealogy. I do understand the Vietnam also uses this tradition, but I can’t find the details. If anyone knows this I would love to put a further explanation up on social media so please let me know.
Thank you all for joining me for this quick little episode.
Sources:
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_1000bce_names.htm
https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/south-korean-culture/south-korean-culture-naming
https://asiasociety.org/korea/introduction-korean-names-are-all-kims-same
