In 1884, he was given the posthumous name of 'Emperor Kyoko' and the respected title of 'retired emperor,' being Emperor Meiji's great great grandfather, (The procedure to do this was a lot more complicated since the system of having a 'the retired emperor' was abolished after Meiji period) so, after that he was called Emperor Kyoko or Kyokoin, instead of Kaninnomiya Imperial Prince Sukehito.
1884年（明治17年）になり、明治天皇の高祖父にあたるという事で「慶光天皇」の諡号と「太上天皇」の尊号が贈られた（明治以後に「太上天皇」制度が廃止された関係で二重の手続を要した）、以後、閑院宮典仁親王ではなく、慶光天皇または慶光院と称される。