If you’re familiar with Asians who were not born and raised in English-speaking countries, you’ve probably heard of their English names, unofficial names not found on their identity cards. I spent most of my life growing up in Korea and used my English name, ‘Ariel’, as well, when introducing myself to non-Koreans. I only started using my Korean name a couple of years ago, so many of my friends still know me as Ariel.
Thinking about it now, I believe this practice began as a matter of convenience to adapt to the international context, as Asian names often differ wildly in pronunciation and spelling, confusing for those without a specific background. Before delving into why I stopped using my ‘English name,’ let me share how I came up with ‘Ariel.’
Around the age of three or four, I was a huge fan of The Little Mermaid. From that point on, I simply decided to become “Ariel,” and since I was living in the States at the time, people started calling me by that name. Even after I returned to Korea a couple years later, I continued to introduce myself as Ariel whenever I met foreigners. (I’m sure many others also have similar stories about how they chose their English name!)
While using the name, I thought it made life easier. However, a couple of years ago, a simple question from my partner, ‘Why are you not using your real name?’ made me reconsider this idea. When he heard my story, he encouraged me to use my Korean name, and despite the initial difficulty in pronunciation for him, he began calling me ‘Hyunji.’ When he and his family members used my real name, I felt a sense of gratitude and realized it was a matter of personal choice.
Upon embracing my real name, I experienced a greater sense of acknowledgment and authenticity, realizing that I was being true to myself rather than using a fictional name from my childhood for others’ convenience. Of course, living in an international environment, difficulties arise when introducing myself to strangers sometimes, but I’ve come to understand that using my real name is not a necessity but an added benefit.
In the past couple of years, as I entered the professional world, I started using only my Korean name, ‘Hyunji(현지)’ Despite the occasional mispronunciations and the extra time it takes for people to memorize, I am proud to be ‘Hyunji,’ resonating with my true ‘identity,’ a name my father bestowed with the meanings of ‘Wise (Hyun; 어질)’ and ‘knowledge (Ji; 뜻),’ qualities I aspire to embody as a person one day.