From the moment I was born, I had a deep connection with my major. In Korea, it's a common practice to visit a naming center, where you pay to receive a meaningful name. My name, Chaeyeon, was given to me through such a naming center, and I learned its significance from my parents. The character Chae (彩) means coloring and yeon (延) means connection with people. The concept of coloring inherent in my name is particularly intriguing, especially given my decision to major in art. People say that when they see me, the color yellow comes to mind because I am warm and bright. Among the various colors in my name, I intend to build various friendships with the warm and gentle attitude symbolized by yellow.

Despite initially thinking my name was commonplace due to the fame of celebrities like Chaeyeon from the K-pop groups I.O.I and IZ*ONE, as well as a few friends sharing the same name, I later discovered that it wasn't as common as I had assumed. According to Forebears.io, there are approximately 5,147 individuals named Chaeyeon, making it the 238th most common name in Korea. Furthermore, I found that there were no men with the name Chaeyeon.

Interestingly, my name might not have been Chaeyeon at all. While I was still in my mother's womb, she noticed my active movements and initially thought I would be a boy. As a result, she decided to incorporate the character woon from my sister's name Chaewoon and named me Kyungwoon. Typically, Kyungwoon is a name more commonly given to males in Korea. I also like the name Gyeongwoon, which was once a candidate because it sounds rather cool and isn't commonly heard.

In reality, my name appears to influence my approach to making friends. I frequently take the initiative to connect with others and adapt my behavior to align with their personalities. This aspect of my name's influence on my social interactions has become increasingly evident over time. When seeking to befriend individuals with calm and reserved personalities, I tend to be more cautious and take my time in getting to know them. On the other hand, when trying to connect with more outgoing and active friends, I'm eager to strike up conversations and make plans for group activities. I find that I possess a mix of introversion and extroversion, as well as a blend of emotional and rational traits, which adds to the diversity of my interactions and friendships.

Work Cited

“Most Common South Korean Names & Meanings - Forebears.” Forebears. Accessed September 20, 2023. https://forebears.io/south-korea/forenames.