Korean Boy Names
Most Korean boy names have two syllables, and each syllable usually matches a Chinese-derived character (hanja) chosen for its meaning. Min-jun, for example, is often written 敏俊: “quick, clever” plus “talented.” A growing number of parents instead pick native Korean words with no hanja at all, like Ha-neul (sky) or Ga-on (center).
Below you’ll find 100 Korean boy names with Hangul, a common hanja reading and the meaning it gives. Syllables within a family often repeat across siblings or cousins, a tradition called dollimja. For more, visit our Korean names guide, browse Korean girl names, or look at Japanese boy names for comparison.
Popular Korean boy names today
These names have been among the most registered for baby boys in South Korea over the past decade, according to Supreme Court family-registry data.
| Name | Hangul (hanja) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Min-jun | 민준 (敏俊) | Quick, clever + talented |
| Seo-jun | 서준 (瑞俊) | Auspicious + talented |
| Do-yun | 도윤 (道允) | Way, path + sincere |
| Ha-jun | 하준 (河俊) | River + talented |
| Eun-woo | 은우 (恩祐) | Grace + divine help |
| Si-woo | 시우 (時雨) | Timely, welcome rain |
| Ji-ho | 지호 (智浩) | Wisdom + vast |
| Ye-jun | 예준 (睿俊) | Wise + talented |
| Yu-jun | 유준 (裕俊) | Abundant + talented |
| Su-ho | 수호 (守護) | Guardian, protector |
| Seon-woo | 선우 (善祐) | Goodness + help |
| Jun-woo | 준우 (俊宇) | Talented + universe |
| Do-hyun | 도현 (道賢) | Way + wise |
| Geon-woo | 건우 (建宇) | Build + universe |
| Woo-jin | 우진 (宇珍) | Universe + precious |
| Yeon-woo | 연우 (延宇) | Extend + universe |
| Jun-seo | 준서 (俊瑞) | Talented + auspicious |
| Ju-won | 주원 (周元) | Complete + origin |
| Hyun-woo | 현우 (賢宇) | Wise + universe |
| Ji-hoon | 지훈 (智勳) | Wisdom + merit |
| I-an | 이안 (理安) | Reason + peace |
| Seo-jin | 서진 (瑞鎭) | Auspicious + guard |
Classic Korean boy names
Common among fathers and grandfathers born from the 1950s to the 1980s, these names now sound solid and traditional.
| Name | Hangul (hanja) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Young-soo | 영수 (永秀) | Eternal + excellent |
| Cheol-su | 철수 (哲秀) | Wise + excellent; Korea’s “John Doe” in textbooks |
| Sung-min | 성민 (聖敏) | Holy + clever |
| Jung-ho | 정호 (正浩) | Upright + vast |
| Sang-hoon | 상훈 (相勳) | Mutual + merit |
| Dong-hyun | 동현 (東賢) | East + wise |
| Jae-hyun | 재현 (在賢) | Exist + wise |
| Seung-hyun | 승현 (承賢) | Inherit + wise |
| Ji-sung | 지성 (智成) | Wisdom + achieve |
| Kwang-soo | 광수 (光洙) | Light + river |
| Young-ho | 영호 (英浩) | Brilliant + vast |
| Min-ho | 민호 (敏浩) | Clever + vast |
| Jin-woo | 진우 (眞宇) | True + universe |
| Joon-young | 준영 (俊英) | Talented + brilliant |
| Sang-woo | 상우 (尙宇) | Esteem + universe |
| Hyun-jun | 현준 (賢俊) | Wise + talented |
| Tae-hyun | 태현 (泰賢) | Great, peaceful + wise |
| Byung-ho | 병호 (炳浩) | Bright + vast |
| Dae-jung | 대중 (大中) | Great + center |
| Jae-won | 재원 (載元) | Carry + origin |
Native Korean (pure Korean) boy names
Sunhangeul ireum (순한글 이름) are built from native Korean words rather than hanja. They became fashionable from the 1980s and feel fresh and modern. See also nature boy names.
| Name | Hangul | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ha-neul | 하늘 | Sky, heaven |
| Ga-on | 가온 | Center, middle (from old Korean) |
| Han-gyeol | 한결 | Steadfast, always the same |
| Han-byeol | 한별 | Great star |
| Han-sol | 한솔 | Big pine tree |
| Ba-reun | 바른 | Upright, right |
| Da-on | 다온 | All good things come |
| Ra-on | 라온 | Joyful (old Korean) |
| Mi-reu | 미르 | Dragon (old Korean) |
| I-rum | 이룸 | Achievement |
| Sae-byeok | 새벽 | Dawn |
| Ba-da | 바다 | Sea |
| Na-mu | 나무 | Tree |
| Bit | 빛 | Light |
| Gu-reum | 구름 | Cloud |
| Sae-rom | 새롬 | New, fresh |
Strong Korean boy names
Names that carry courage, strength and leadership. Browse more strong boy names or names that mean warrior.
| Name | Hangul (hanja) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Tae-yang | 태양 (太陽) | Sun |
| Yong | 용 (龍) | Dragon |
| Ho-jin | 호진 (虎鎭) | Tiger + guard |
| Kang-min | 강민 (剛敏) | Strong + quick |
| Seung-woo | 승우 (勝宇) | Victory + universe |
| Tae-min | 태민 (泰旼) | Great + gentle |
| Gun | 건 (健) | Healthy, strong |
| Hyuk | 혁 (赫) | Radiant, glorious |
| Myung-soo | 명수 (明洙) | Bright + river |
| Beom | 범 (範) | Model, example (also native word for tiger) |
| Seok | 석 (石) | Stone |
| Il-seong | 일성 (日星) | Sun + star |
| Dong-geon | 동건 (東建) | East + build |
| Chan | 찬 (燦) | Brilliant, shining |
Modern and short Korean boy names
Short, crisp names and softer two-syllable combinations are rising fast among parents in Seoul and abroad. They also pair well with English middle names.
| Name | Hangul (hanja) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Yul | 율 (律) | Law, rhythm |
| Won | 원 (元) | Origin, first |
| Jun | 준 (俊) | Talented, handsome |
| Hoon | 훈 (勳) | Merit, achievement |
| Jin | 진 (眞) | Truth |
| Eun-ho | 은호 (恩浩) | Grace + vast |
| Si-hoo | 시후 (時厚) | Time + generous |
| Ha-min | 하민 (夏旻) | Summer + autumn sky |
| Ji-an | 지안 (智安) | Wisdom + peace |
| Yun-ho | 윤호 (允浩) | Sincere + vast |
| Tae-o | 태오 (泰旿) | Great + bright |
| Ye-chan | 예찬 (禮讚) | Praise, admiration |
| Jae-min | 재민 (載敏) | Carry + clever |
| Ye-seong | 예성 (藝星) | Art + star |
Names from Korean history and legend
Heroes of Goguryeo, Silla, Baekje and Joseon still inspire parents and storytellers.
| Name | Hangul | Who it recalls |
|---|---|---|
| Sejong | 세종 | King Sejong the Great, creator of Hangul (1443) |
| Sun-sin | 순신 | Admiral Yi Sun-sin, famed for his turtle ships |
| Jumong | 주몽 | Founder of Goguryeo; the name meant “skilled archer” |
| Yu-sin | 유신 | General Kim Yu-sin, who helped unify the peninsula |
| Gam-chan | 감찬 | General Gang Gam-chan, victor over the Khitan in 1019 |
| Wang-geon | 왕건 | Founder of the Goryeo dynasty (918) |
| Dan-gun | 단군 | Legendary founder of Gojoseon |
| Gye-baek | 계백 | Baekje general remembered for his last stand |
Korean boy names made famous by K-pop and K-drama
Many global fans first learn Korean names from idols’ birth names. These are real given names, widely used in Korea.
| Name | Hangul | Famous bearer |
|---|---|---|
| Nam-joon | 남준 | RM of BTS (Kim Nam-joon) |
| Seok-jin | 석진 | Jin of BTS (Kim Seok-jin) |
| Yoon-gi | 윤기 | Suga of BTS (Min Yoon-gi) |
| Ho-seok | 호석 | J-Hope of BTS (Jung Ho-seok) |
| Ji-min | 지민 | Jimin of BTS (Park Ji-min) |
| Tae-hyung | 태형 | V of BTS (Kim Tae-hyung) |
| Jung-kook | 정국 | Jungkook of BTS (Jeon Jung-kook) |
| Chan-yeol | 찬열 | Chanyeol of EXO |
| Min-ki | 민기 | Actor Lee Min-ki |
| Hyun-bin | 현빈 | Actor Hyun Bin’s stage name, from his given name Tae-pyung |
How to choose a Korean boy name
- Mind the romanization. The same name may be written Jun, Joon or Jun; pick the spelling you want on official documents and keep it consistent.
- Choose the hanja carefully. 준 can be 俊 (talented), 準 (standard) or 峻 (lofty); family elders often help choose.
- Consider generation syllables. Many families share one syllable (dollimja) across a generation, such as all cousins ending in -woo.
- Test it with your surname. Korean names are said surname-first (Kim Min-jun), so say both orders aloud.
- Native names have no hanja. Names like Ha-neul or Ga-on are great if you want a meaning that works directly in Korean.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular Korean boy name?
In recent years, names like Seo-jun, Ha-jun, Do-yun, Eun-woo and Si-woo have topped South Korea’s birth-registration rankings; Min-jun led for most of the 2010s.
What Korean boy name means sun?
Tae-yang (태양, 太陽) literally means “sun.” Il (日) also means sun and appears in names like Il-seong.
What does the -jun in Korean names mean?
It usually comes from the hanja 俊, meaning “talented” or “handsome,” though other characters such as 準 (standard) are also used.
What is a native Korean name?
It is a name made from pure Korean words instead of Chinese-derived hanja, like Ha-neul (sky), Han-byeol (great star) or Ga-on (center).
Why are Korean names hyphenated in English?
The hyphen shows that two syllables form one given name (Min-jun). Many people write it as one word (Minjun) or with a space instead.