Korean Names
A Korean name usually has three syllables: a one-syllable family name followed by a two-syllable given name, as in Kim Min-jun. Each syllable of the given name is traditionally tied to a hanja character, so parents build meaning piece by piece, often with help from grandparents or a professional naming center.
This page explains the system and collects more than 60 Korean names and name elements, from native Korean words to the building-block syllables you’ll see everywhere. For full lists, see Korean boy names, Korean girl names and Korean last names. Curious about the neighbors? Compare with Japanese names.
Korean Names: browse all lists
Popular Korean baby names
A snapshot of names that have ranked high in South Korea’s birth registrations over the last decade.
| Name | Hangul | Gender and meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Min-jun | 민준 | Boy; clever + talented |
| Seo-jun | 서준 | Boy; auspicious + talented |
| Do-yun | 도윤 | Boy; the way + sincere |
| Ha-jun | 하준 | Boy; river + talented |
| Eun-woo | 은우 | Boy; grace + divine help |
| Si-woo | 시우 | Boy; timely rain |
| Ye-jun | 예준 | Boy; wise + talented |
| Seo-yeon | 서연 | Girl; auspicious + beautiful |
| Seo-ah | 서아 | Girl; auspicious + child |
| Ha-yun | 하윤 | Girl; summer + lustrous |
| Ha-eun | 하은 | Girl; summer + grace |
| Seo-yun | 서윤 | Girl; auspicious + sincere |
| Su-ah | 수아 | Girl; excellent + elegant |
| Ji-an | 지안 | Unisex; wisdom + peace |
Common syllables in Korean names and their meanings
Once you know these building blocks, you can read the intention behind thousands of Korean names. Each syllable can map to several hanja; the most common meaning is shown.
| Syllable | Hangul (hanja) | Common meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Min | 민 (敏 / 旼) | Clever, quick / gentle |
| Jun | 준 (俊) | Talented, handsome |
| Seo | 서 (瑞) | Auspicious, lucky omen |
| Ji | 지 (智) | Wisdom |
| Hyun | 현 (賢) | Virtuous, wise |
| Woo | 우 (宇 / 祐) | Universe / divine help |
| Eun | 은 (恩 / 銀) | Grace / silver |
| Yeon | 연 (妍 / 蓮) | Beautiful / lotus |
| Hye | 혜 (慧) | Intelligent, bright |
| Soo | 수 (秀) | Excellent, outstanding |
| Young | 영 (英 / 永) | Brilliant, flower / eternal |
| Hee | 희 (熙 / 姬) | Bright / lady |
| Jae | 재 (才) | Talent |
| Sung | 성 (星 / 成) | Star / accomplish |
| Ho | 호 (浩 / 虎) | Vast / tiger |
| Yun | 윤 (允 / 潤) | Sincere / lustrous |
Native Korean names
Pure Korean names use everyday words instead of hanja, which gives them a clear, modern feel. Many suit any gender, like the gender-neutral names popular in English.
| Name | Hangul | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ha-neul | 하늘 | Sky, heaven |
| Da-som | 다솜 | Love (old Korean) |
| Bo-ra | 보라 | Purple |
| Na-rae | 나래 | Wings |
| Ga-on | 가온 | Center, middle |
| Han-byeol | 한별 | Great star |
| Bom | 봄 | Spring |
| I-seul | 이슬 | Dew |
| Ba-da | 바다 | Sea |
| Sae-byeok | 새벽 | Dawn |
| Han-gyeol | 한결 | Steadfast |
| Byeol | 별 | Star |
| Ha-na | 하나 | One |
| Ra-on | 라온 | Joyful (old Korean) |
Korean names by meaning
If you’re searching for a Korean name with a specific meaning, start here, or compare with names that mean moon in other cultures.
| Name | Hangul (hanja) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Tae-yang | 태양 (太陽) | Sun |
| Eun-ha | 은하 (銀河) | Milky Way |
| Seol-a | 설아 (雪兒) | Snow child |
| Yeon-hwa | 연화 (蓮花) | Lotus flower |
| Su-ho | 수호 (守護) | Guardian |
| Yong | 용 (龍) | Dragon |
| Jin-ju | 진주 (眞珠) | Pearl |
| Mi-reu | 미르 | Dragon (old Korean) |
| Sa-rang | 사랑 | Love |
| Dal | 달 | Moon |
| Mae-hwa | 매화 (梅花) | Plum blossom |
| Hae-in | 해인 (海印) | Seal of the sea |
Korean surnames and their many English spellings
Romanization is inconsistent, so the same family name may appear several ways. More on our Korean last names page.
| Surname | Hangul | Common spellings |
|---|---|---|
| Kim | 김 | Kim, Gim |
| Lee | 이 | Lee, Yi, Rhee, Ri |
| Park | 박 | Park, Pak, Bak |
| Choi | 최 | Choi, Choe, Chey |
| Jung | 정 | Jung, Jeong, Chung |
| Kang | 강 | Kang, Gang |
| Cho | 조 | Cho, Jo, Joe |
| Yoon | 윤 | Yoon, Yun |
How Korean names work
- Order: family name first, then given name. There are no middle names.
- Generation names: in many families, siblings or cousins of one generation share a syllable (dollimja), chosen from a family genealogy book (jokbo).
- Legal limits: South Korean given names may use only approved hanja (about 8,000 characters) and are limited to five syllables.
- Addressing people: add -ssi for politeness (Min-jun-ssi) and use titles like seonsaengnim (teacher) instead of first names with elders.
Frequently asked questions
How many syllables are in a Korean name?
Usually three: a one-syllable surname plus a two-syllable given name. One-syllable given names (like Kim Jin) and two-syllable surnames (like Namgung) also exist.
What are the most common Korean last names?
Kim, Lee and Park together account for roughly 45% of South Koreans. Choi, Jung, Kang, Cho, Yoon, Jang and Lim complete the top ten.
What is a native Korean name?
A name made from pure Korean words rather than Chinese-derived hanja, such as Ha-neul (sky), Bo-ra (purple) or Ga-on (center).
Do Korean women change their surname after marriage?
No. Korean women traditionally keep their own family name for life.
Can a Korean name be unisex?
Yes. Names like Ji-woo, Ji-an, Ha-neul, Ji-min and Yoon are used for both girls and boys.