Gyeong-Ja

Gyeong-Ja is a traditional Korean feminine given name. Like many Korean names, it is composed of two Sino-Korean elements, each with multiple possible meanings depending on the hanja (Chinese character) used. The first element, 'Gyeong' (경), can mean 'respect, honor, revere' (敬), 'scenery, view' (景), or 'capital city' (京), among others. The second element, 'Ja' (자), is a common suffix in older Korean names, often meaning 'child' (子) or 'person'. The combination 'Gyeong-Ja' most commonly uses hanja meaning 'respect/honor' and 'child', conveying a wish for the child to be honored or to honor others.

Names ending in '-Ja' were extremely popular for girls in Korea during the early to mid-20th century, particularly during the Japanese colonial period and immediately after. This naming convention was influenced by Japanese naming practices, where '-ko' (子, also meaning 'child') was a very common feminine suffix. While still recognized, names like Gyeong-Ja have significantly declined in popularity since the late 20th century, as modern Korean parents tend to prefer names with purely Korean origins or different hanja combinations that sound more contemporary.