World Culture names

Korean Name Generator

Get a Korean given name with its meaning, then pair it with a family name. Surname first, written as one word in Hangul: Kim Minjun, 김민준.

A quiet hanok courtyard after rain, curved roof tiles gleaming above wooden lattice doors

A few to start with

MinjiQuick and wise (敏智)
JoonTalented
JiwooWisdom and help (智祐)
HyejinWise and precious (慧珍)
SeokRock
JiwonWisdom and origin (智元) for boys, or wisdom and beauty (智媛) for girls

About Korean names

Understanding Korean names

Korean names are short and run family name first: Park Jimin, Lee Seoyeon. The surname is almost always one syllable, and the pool is tiny. In the 2015 South Korean census, Kim, Lee and Park alone covered about 45 percent of the population. Families tell themselves apart by clan seat, the ancestral home of the line, so a Gimhae Kim and a Gyeongju Kim are different families.

Given names are usually two syllables, and each syllable has traditionally been tied to a hanja, a Chinese character chosen for its meaning. Seo (瑞) can mean "auspicious," Jun (俊) "talented," Ji (智) "wisdom." In recent decades, more parents have chosen native Korean words with no hanja at all: Haneul (sky), Bora (purple), Iseul (dew), Sarang (love). Syllables lean male or female. Jun, ho and hyun read as boys' syllables; yeon, ah, eun and hee as girls'. Jiwoo and Yujin go either way.

A short guide

How to come up with a Korean name

Pick a surname, then think past Kim

Kim, Lee or Park is realistic, but with that many Kims a story needs other ways to tell people apart. Mid-frequency surnames like Choi, Jung, Kang, Cho and Yoon still sound ordinary. Rare and two-syllable surnames like Bong, Seonwoo and Namgung stand out. Romanization varies by family: 이 can be Lee, Yi or Rhee; 박 is Park or Bak; 정 is Jung, Jeong or Chung. Choose one spelling and keep it.

Use a generation syllable for siblings

Many families give every child of a generation one shared syllable, the dollimja, chosen according to the clan genealogy. Brothers might be Minjun and Minseok, or Seungho and Junho. Traditionally the shared syllable alternates position, first in one generation and second in the next. It was applied mostly to sons, so in a historical setting a daughter's name can sit outside the pattern, a quiet detail about her place in the family.

Match the name to the decade

Names date a character fast. Women born in the 1960s and 70s are often Mikyung, Eunjoo or Younghee; men of that age are Youngho, Sungho or Junghoon. Children born since 2010 are Seojun, Doyun, Hajun and Siwoo, or Seoyeon, Seoah, Hayoon and Jiwoo. A girl's name ending in -ja (子), as in Youngja or Sunja, marks a woman born in the Japanese colonial era or just after, when that ending was borrowed from Japanese -ko.

Write and romanize it correctly

In Hangul, the full name is written as one unit with no space: 김지민. In English, people hyphenate the given name, run it together or split it: Ji-min, Jimin or Ji Min. The official Revised Romanization spells 이 as I and 정 as Jeong, but most families keep older spellings like Lee and Jung. For a fantasy setting, sound matters more than spelling; syllables like Hyeon, Seol and Yeon read as Korean even in invented names.

Famous names

Famous Korean names and what they show

Real people, family name first, and what their names reveal.

King Sejong (Yi Do)Born Yi Do, he introduced Hangul in 1443. Joseon kings are remembered by temple names given after death, like Sejong, not the names they used in life.
Yi Sun-sinThe admiral's surname is the same 이 as Lee. Scholars and older texts often romanize it Yi, so one family name can look like two in English.
Kim Seokjin, Kim Namjoon and Kim TaehyungBetter known as Jin, RM and V of BTS. Three Kims in a seven-member group shows how common the surname is, and why stage names help.
Han KangThe 2024 Nobel laureate's name sounds exactly like the Han River (Hangang) that runs through Seoul. Han is a surname of its own, separate from Kim, Lee and Park.
Kim YunaThe figure skater's given name is 연아 (Yeon-a) in Hangul but romanized Yuna in English, a reminder that official and personal spellings often differ.
Son Heung-minSon (孫) is a mid-frequency surname, a good pick when you want something familiar that isn't Kim, Lee or Park. Heung-min follows the classic two-syllable pattern.
Bong Joon-hoBong is a rare surname, while Joon-ho is a very common pattern for men of his generation. Pairing a rare surname with an everyday given name feels true to life.

Names and meanings

Popular Korean names

Popular Korean names
Name	Meaning	Gender
Minji	Quick and wise (敏智)	Female
Joon	Talented	Male
Hyejin	Wise and precious (慧珍)	Female
Seok	Rock	Male
Jiwoo	Wisdom and help (智祐)	Unisex
Yoon	Allowing	Male
Sooyoung	Excellent and outstanding (秀英)	Female
Minho	Quick and vast (敏浩)	Male
Sujin	Graceful Pearl	Female
Hyun	Wise	Male
Jisoo	Wisdom and excellence (智秀)	Female
Donghae	East Sea	Male
Yeji	Artistic and Wisdom	Female
Taeyang	Sun	Male
Eunbi	Grace or kindness (恩), with a second syllable whose meaning depends on its hanja	Female
Kyungsoo	Respect and excellence (敬秀)	Male
Jiwon	Wisdom and origin (智元) for boys, or wisdom and beauty (智媛) for girls	Unisex
Jaehoon	Carrying merit (載勳)	Male
Seohee	Auspicious and bright (瑞熙)	Female
Sanghyun	Esteeming wisdom (尙賢)	Male

60 more Korean names and meanings

Male Korean names

Male Korean names
Name	Meaning
Seojun	Hanja-dependent; possible associations include auspiciousness and talent.
Dohwan	Hanja-dependent; may suggest a way or path and brightness.
Jaemin	Hanja-dependent; possible associations include talent and quick understanding.
Junseo	Hanja-dependent; can evoke excellence and auspiciousness.
Seungmin	Hanja-dependent; possible associations include achievement and intelligence.
Minseok	Hanja-dependent; may suggest cleverness and steadfastness.
Taehwan	Hanja-dependent; can evoke greatness and radiance.
Gunwoo	Hanja-dependent; possible associations include strength and protection.
Seungwoo	Hanja-dependent; may suggest accomplishment and help.
Woojin	Hanja-dependent; possible associations include assistance and preciousness.
Changmin	Hanja-dependent; can suggest flourishing and cleverness.
Hajun	Hanja-dependent; possible associations include summer and excellence.
Kyumin	Hanja-dependent; may evoke respect and intelligence.
Junhyuk	Hanja-dependent; can suggest excellence and brilliance.
Seongho	Hanja-dependent; possible associations include sincerity and greatness.
Seongjin	Hanja-dependent; may suggest sincerity and progress.
Doyoon	Hanja-dependent; can evoke a principled path and gentleness.
Yejun	Hanja-dependent; possible associations include artistry and excellence.
Dongwon	Hanja-dependent; may suggest origin and enduring purpose.
Inho	Hanja-dependent; can evoke benevolence and a heroic spirit.
Kihoon	Hanja-dependent; possible associations include foundation and instruction.
Eunsung	Hanja-dependent; may suggest kindness and accomplishment.
Hojun	Hanja-dependent; can evoke a fine reputation and excellence.
Wonsik	Hanja-dependent; possible associations include origin and principle.

Female Korean names

Female Korean names
Name	Meaning
Seoyeon	Hanja-dependent; often chosen for graceful or auspicious associations.
Jihye	Hanja-dependent; commonly associated with wisdom and understanding.
Hana	Korean word for “one”; also used as a given name.
Nari	Korean word for “lily.”
Areum	Korean word meaning “beauty” or “beautiful.”
Chaewon	Hanja-dependent; possible associations include color and origin.
Yuna	Hanja-dependent; its meaning varies with the chosen characters.
Haeun	Hanja-dependent; may evoke grace and kindness.
Soyeon	Hanja-dependent; can suggest refinement and beauty.
Bora	Korean word for “purple.”
Dabin	Hanja-dependent; possible associations include accomplishment and refinement.
Gaeul	Korean word for “autumn.”
Sarang	Korean word for “love.”
Seulgi	Korean word meaning “wisdom” or “good sense.”
Hyeri	Hanja-dependent; possible associations include wisdom and benefit.
Dahye	Hanja-dependent; may suggest abundance and wisdom.
Eunseo	Hanja-dependent; can evoke kindness and auspiciousness.
Suah	Hanja-dependent; possible associations include excellence and elegance.
Nayeon	Hanja-dependent; may suggest grace and brightness.
Gyuri	Hanja-dependent; possible associations include beauty and principle.
Hyojin	Hanja-dependent; may evoke filial devotion and preciousness.
Hyeonju	Hanja-dependent; can suggest virtue and pearl-like preciousness.
Jieun	Hanja-dependent; possible associations include wisdom and kindness.
Dayeon	Hanja-dependent; may evoke abundance and grace.
Daeun	Many graces (多恩), one common hanja spelling

Unisex Korean names

Unisex Korean names
Name	Meaning
Haneul	Korean word for “sky”; used as a given name.
Yujin	Hanja-dependent; its meaning varies with the chosen characters.
Jaein	Hanja-dependent; possible associations include talent and benevolence.
Iseul	Korean word for “dew.”
Sol	Korean word for “pine tree.”
Yeonwoo	Hanja-dependent; may suggest connection and assistance.
Jiyul	Hanja-dependent; possible associations include wisdom and rhythm.
Seon	Hanja-dependent; can suggest goodness or virtue.
Hajin	Hanja-dependent; possible associations include summer and preciousness.
Hamin	Hanja-dependent; may evoke kindness and intelligence.
Haon	A contemporary-style name; meaning depends on intended hanja.

Korean last names

Korean last names
Name	Meaning
Kim (Gim)	Common surname usually written 金, the character for “gold”; clan origins vary.
Lee (Yi)	Common surname usually written 李; the character names the plum tree.
Park (Bak)	Common surname usually written 朴; clan origins vary.
Choi	Common surname often written 崔; the character is associated with height.
Jeong	Common surname with several hanja spellings and clan origins.
Kang	Surname with multiple hanja spellings, including 姜 and 江.
Cho	Common surname with more than one hanja spelling and clan origin.
Yoon (Yun)	Common surname often written 尹; romanization varies.
Jang	Common surname with multiple hanja spellings and clan origins.
Lim (Im)	Common surname often written 林, the character for “woods” or “grove.”
Han	Surname with distinct hanja spellings and clan lineages.
Oh	Common surname often written 吳; clan origins vary.
Seo	Common surname often written 徐; romanization and clan origins vary.
Shin	Surname with several hanja spellings and clan lineages.
Kwon	Common surname often written 權; clan origins vary.
Hwang	Common surname often written 黃, the character for “yellow.”
Ahn (An)	Common surname often written 安, the character for “peace” or “calm.”
Song	Common surname often written 宋; clan origins vary.
Ryu (Yu)	Surname often written 柳, the character for “willow”; romanization varies.
Hong	Common surname often written 洪; clan origins vary.

Good to know

Korean names: frequently asked questions

What are good Korean names for boys?

Recent top boys' names include Seojun, Doyun, Hajun, Eunwoo and Siwoo. For a man in his 30s or 40s, try Minho, Jihoon, Hyunwoo or Sungmin. Older men are often Youngsoo, Sangchul or Jaeho. Male-leaning syllables include jun (俊, talented), ho (浩, vast), hyun (賢, wise) and seok (石, stone). Pair one with Kim, Choi or Kang for a complete name like Choi Jihoon or Kang Hyunwoo.

What are good Korean names for girls?

Seoyeon, Seoah, Hayoon, Jiwoo and Haeun lead recent girls' rankings. Women in their 30s and 40s are often Jiyoung, Eunji, Sujin or Minji; Cho Nam-joo titled her novel Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 because Jiyoung was the most common name for girls born that year. Native Korean names such as Haneul (sky), Bora (purple) and Nari (lily) feel modern. Feminine syllables include yeon (妍, beautiful) and eun (恩, grace).

Can I get a Korean name based on my real name?

You can write your name in Hangul by sound: Emma is 엠마, Daniel is 다니엘. That spells your name, but it doesn't make it Korean. For a Korean-style name, match a sound or a meaning. Grace could become Eunhye (은혜, grace), Sophia (wisdom) could become Jihye (지혜, wisdom), and Hannah could become Hana (하나, one). Then add a common surname like Lee or Yoon.

How do I make a Korean fantasy name?

Use real syllables in less common combinations, or native Korean words that sound like names: Byeol (star), Dal (moon), Baram (wind), Garam (an old word for river) and Haneul (sky). For a historical or palace setting, two-syllable surnames such as Namgung or Seonwoo add weight. Avoid stringing random syllables together; Koreans will notice a name no parent would choose, so build fantasy names from real parts.

What do Korean names mean?

Most given names take their meaning from the hanja chosen for each syllable, and one syllable can have many. Min can be 敏 (quick), 民 (people) or 珉 (a jade-like stone), so Minji and Minho have no single meaning until the hanja are fixed. Families register the chosen hanja with the government, from an approved list for names. Native Korean names like Seulgi (wisdom) and Gaeul (autumn) mean exactly what the word means.

Why do so many Koreans share the same surname?

Surnames spread to the whole population late, and many families who gained one took up prestigious names like Kim, Lee and Park. Today those three cover about 45 percent of South Koreans. Each surname splits into clans by ancestral seat: the Gimhae Kim clan is the largest. For a story, a character's clan can matter for old-fashioned families, such as parents who object to a match within the same clan.