The name "Korea" ultimately derives from the ancient kingdom of Goryeo.
While it's not a single person, the etymology of "Korea" is interesting:
- "Korea" is the modern spelling of "Corea".
- The name "Corea" is attested in English as early as 1614.
- According to the reference, "Corea" is derived from the name of the ancient kingdom of Goryeo.
- Marco Polo transliterated Korea as "Cauli" in his travels, which came from the Chinese word 高麗 (MC: Kawlej, mod).
In short, the name "Korea" wasn't given by one individual, but evolved from the name of the Goryeo kingdom and its representation in other languages over time.
