My Korean Name

This week I was honoured by one of my co-teachers with a Korean name:

나 부 영

(Na Bu Yong)

If your computer cannot read Korean characters, I apologize.

“Na” represents a shortened version of my family name. Family names in Korea only have one syllable, as far as I can tell.

“Bu yong” is a representation of my first name.

“Bu” means rich, while “yong” means easy, comfortable life. Here is the exact meaning as told by my co-teacher: Your life will be rich, prosperous, and a long one. That means heaven will lead you to help poor and weak people.

Reaction to my name has been mixed. I introduced it to all of my students, and while most of them said it was good (seemingly the only adjective they know), some of them expressed concern that perhaps Na Bu Yong was a girl’s name. I also was told on several occasions that Na Bu Yong was a “country” name – the Korean equivalent of Billy or Bobby or Kip or Ray Jay. Or .. I guess in this case, Terri-Jean or Lou-Ann. I struggle trying to think of other “country” names. Please comment with your own.

This is what my name looks like in Chinese characters (you may have to install something to see them): 

羅 富 寧