Na or Ra is a relatively uncommon

Korean family name This is a list of Korean surnames, in Hangul alphabetical order. Note: (S) North–South differences in the Korean language, denotes South Korea. (N) North–South differences in the Korean language, denotes North Korea. The most common Korean fa ...

. The name is written as 나 (Na) in

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

, and as 라 (Ra) in

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu River, Y ...

. As of 2015, an estimated 160,946 people (0.32% of the population of South Korea) had the surname Na or Ra. provided by the ROK National Statistical Office. The total population was 49,705,663 for the statistical sample, which does not include any data from

Origin

The name Na or Ra comes from the Chinese surname

Luo Luo may refer to: Luo peoples and languages *Luo peoples, an ethno-linguistic group of eastern and central Africa **Luo people of Kenya and Tanzania or Joluo, an ethnic group in western Kenya, eastern Uganda, and northern Tanzania. *** Luoland, th ...

, written as 羅. In

Cantonese Cantonese ( zh, t=廣東話, s=广东话, first=t, cy=Gwóngdūng wá) is a language within the Chinese (Sinitic) branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages originating from the city of Guangzhou (historically known as Canton) and its surrounding are ...

the surname is typically romanized as Lo or Law. Other possible romanizations include Nah, La, Lah, Rha, Rah, and Law. The variant

hanja Hanja (Hangul: ; Hanja: , ), alternatively known as Hancha, are Chinese characters () used in the writing of Korean. Hanja was used as early as the Gojoseon period, the first ever Korean kingdom. (, ) refers to Sino-Korean vocabulary, wh ...

那 derives from the Chinese toponymic name Na, referring to a small state during the

Zhou dynasty The Zhou dynasty ( ; Old Chinese ( B&S): *''tiw'') was a royal dynasty of China that followed the Shang dynasty. Having lasted 789 years, the Zhou dynasty was the longest dynastic regime in Chinese history. The military control of China by th ...

Clans

Naju Na clan

The

Naju Na clan The Naju Na clan () is one of the Korean clans. Their bon-gwan is in Naju, South Jeolla Province. According to research as of 2000, there were approximately 108,139 members of the Naju Na clan. Their founder was , a Chinese native who came to K ...

() was founded by Na Bu (), a Chinese native who travelled to Korea during the

Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificati ...

period. The clan's

bon-gwan Bon-gwan (or Bongwan) is the concept of clan in Korea, which is used to distinguish clans that happen to share the same family name (clan name). Since Korea has been traditionally a Confucian country, this clan system is similar to ancient Chinese ...

is in

Naju Naju () is a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. The capital of South Jeolla was located at Naju until it was moved to Gwangju in 1895. The name Jeolla actually originates from the first character of Jeonju () and the first character of Na ...

South Jeolla Province South Jeolla Province (; ''Jeollanam-do''; ), also known as Jeonnam, is a province of South Korea. South Jeolla has a population of 1,902,324 (2014) and has a geographic area of located in the Honam region at the southwestern tip of the Korean ...

, where Na Bu settled after coming to Korea. According to research as of 2000, there were 108,139 members of the Naju Nu clan. Notable members include

Na Kyung-won Na Kyung-won (나경원, born 6 December 1963) is a South Korean judge-turned-politician. She is a member of the conservative People Power Party, which is the main opposition party. She was a four-term member of the National Assembly and the ...

Na Moon-hee Na Moon-hee (; Na Kyung-ja, ; November 30, 1941) is a South Korean actress. Since 1960, Na has had a prolific acting career in television and film spanning more than five decades. She established a classic Korean mother persona with her Korean d ...

, Ra Jong-yil,

Rha Woong-bae Rha Woong-bae (24 July 1934 – 25 April 2022) was a South Korean politician and businessman who was the Chairman of the Hanbit Forum. He was also Finance and Economy Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of South Korea under President Kim Dae-j ...

Na Woon-gyu Na Woon-gyu (October 27, 1902 – August 9, 1937) was a Korean actor, screenwriter and director. He is widely considered the most important filmmaker in early Korean cinema, and possibly Korea's first true movie star. Since he often wrote, dir ...

, and Na Hyeseok.

Notable people

Notable people with the surname Na or Ra include: *

Na Yoon-sun Na Yoon-sun ( ko, 나윤선; born August 28, 1969), also known as Youn Sun Nah, is a South Korean jazz musician. Life and career Na Yoon-sun was born on August 28, 1969, in Seoul. Her parents are musical: her father, Na Young-soo (나영수) ...

, South Korean jazz musician *

Na Huideok Na Huideok (, born 1966) is a South Korean poet. Life Na Huideok was born in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province. She was raised in an orphanage in which her parents - Christians who sought to carry out the teachings of their religion through c ...

, South Korean poet * Na Hyeseok, early Korean poet, painter, and feminist * Na Dohyang, 20th-century Korean writer *

, early Korean cinematographer *

, South Korean judge and politician *

, South Korean actress * Ra Jong-yil, former South Korean ambassador *

, South Korean politician and businessman * Na Huna, South Korean trot singer * Na Gwanghyeon, South Korean footballer * Na Jiwan, South Korean outfielder * Na Byeongyul, South Korean football midfielder *

Na Hong-jin Na Hong-jin (, born 1974) is a South Korean film director, producer and screenwriter. Na has won a multitude of awards with his films and most known for violent thriller and horror characteristics in his films. Na first became recognised after ...

, South Korean film director, producer, and screenwriter * Na Seongbeom, South Korean outfielder * Na Yeonghui, South Korean actress *

Na A-reum Na A-reum (, born 24 March 1990) is a South Korean track and road bicycle racer, born in Naju, who last rode for UCI Women's Team . She competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the Women's road race, finishing 13th. She also competed in the ro ...

, South Korean racing cyclist * Na Ry, Miss Korea 2008 * Na Seokju, Korean nationalist * Na Tae-ju, South Korean actor, singer, and taekwondo practicioner *

Na Yeong-seok Na Yeong-seok (, born April 15, 1976), often known by his nickname Na PD, is a South Korean television producer and director. Na is best known for producing the popular variety- reality shows '' 2 Days & 1 Night'', ''New Journey to the West'', ...

, South Korean television director and producer *

Na Hae-ryeong Na Hae-ryung (a.k.a. Na Hae-ryeong, , born November 11, 1994), better known mononymously as Haeryung (a.k.a. Haeryeong), is a South Korean singer and actress. She made her musical debut in February 2012 as a member of EXID, leaving the group two ...

, South Korean singer and actress * Na Hyeon-jeong, South Korean volleyball player * Na Hyeon-hui, South Korean actress and singer * Na Hyeon, South Korean screenwriter, director, script editor, and actor *

Na Dae-yong Na Dae-yong (Hangul: 나대용; Hanja: 羅大用) was a Korean naval officer who fought against the Japanese navy in Imjin war and was also known as a designer of the turtle ship. Biography Na Dae-yong was born in Jeolla-do of Naju, passed the ...

, Korean naval officer during the Imjin War * Na Jeongung, South Korean tennis player *

Na Hye-mi Na Hye-mi (Korean language: 나혜미, born on February 24, 1991) is a South Korean actress and model. She made her first screen debut with a supporting role in '' Address Unknown'' film when she was 10 year-old. After '' Unstoppable High Kick' ...

, South Korean actress and model *

Na In-woo Na Jong-chan (; born September 17, 1994) better known by his stage name Na In-woo ( Korean: 나인우), is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in ''Mr. Queen'' (2020–2021) and '' River Where the Moon Rises'' (2021). He is a c ...

, South Korean actor *

Na Jae-min Na Jae-min (; born August 13, 2000), known mononymously as Jaemin, is a South Korean rapper, singer, dancer and actor. He is a member of the South Korean boy group NCT, primarily promoting with the fixed sub-unit NCT Dream. Early life Na J ...

, South Korean rapper and actor

References

{{surname, Na Na