Korean Names

Posted on 04/06/2011 by seoulawesome

Some of my readers had asked me through e-mails regarding Korean names. Most of them had asked me the meaning of the names of Korean idols.

Basically, Korean names comprise of the surname/family name or seong(성/姓) in Korean, usually one character. Exception includes Dok Go ( 독고), Namgoong (남궁) and more. Given names are usually Hanja based. Therefore, to understand Korean names, we ought to know what is the true meaning of the Hanja (Chinese characters) that are being formed. More commonly, names are two syllables. There are also individuals with only one-syllable given name, such as the case of Jo Kwon (조권). Rarely, there are also Koreans with native Korean names such as Sarang (사랑; Love), Byul (별; Star), Haneul (하늘; Sky) and many more. Let us see some of the examples of the meaning of Korean names which some of my readers had enquired.

SNSD’s Im Yoon-ah and Seohyun (Seo Joohyun)

Im Yoon-ah and Seohyun(Photo: News Prime)

Im Yoon-ah (임윤아)

임 (林): surname meaning forest

윤 (潤): sleek; soft

아 (娥): beautiful

Seo Joohyun (서주현)

서 (徐): surname meaning dignified

주 (朱): red

현 (賢): virtuous

Lee Ji Eun (Yi Ji Eun)

이 (李) : common Korean surname meaning plum tree

지 (知) : knowledge

은 (恩) : grace, charity

Lee Kikwang (Yi Kikwang)

이 (李) : common Korean surname meaning plum tree

기 (起) : rise

광 (光) : light

T-ara’s Ham Eunjung

Ham Eunjung (Photo: Newsen)

Ham Eunjung

함 (咸): uncommon Korean surname meaning united

은 (慇): abundance

정 (晶): bright; radiant

Jang Wooyoung

Jang Wooyoung

장 (張) : common Korean surname literally means to expand

우 (祐) : bless

영 (榮) : honour and glory

94 thoughts on “Korean Names”

민준현 on 08/06/2011 at 11:38 said:

interesting article! my hanja is not very good because its very difficult. but i know my name meaning.

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- seoulawesome on 08/06/2011 at 23:51 said:
  
  thanks for sharing. i guess its impt for us to know the meaning of our names.
  
  Reply ↓
  - kiervin on 20/08/2011 at 21:20 said:
    
    yap it is right
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minnysota on 09/07/2012 at 09:51 said:

Hi I happened across this post while trying to find the meaning behind my own Korean name as I am adopted. My name is 원 영. 원 being the family name of my mother’s that I was given. Would you be able to tell me the meaning behind my Korean name? Also if you know what the meaning of the family name 권 that would be awesome if you could tell me that as that was my father’s family name. Thanks in advance if you get this!

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- seoulawesome on 10/07/2012 at 16:06 said:
  
  hi minnysota!
  firstly, in order to know the meaning of your korean name, I need to know what is your name in Hanja (Chinese characters).
  
  원 can be 元 which means the original, the foundation
  it can also have many other hanjas such as 原援 or 媛 etc…
  권 is quite a common surname with the hanja 權 meaning authority/power
  
  hope it helps
  
  Reply ↓
Ellie Hernandez on 06/08/2012 at 18:52 said:

Hi .. I just want to ask what is the meaning of Chan in Park ChanYeol’s name .. coz as far as I know Yeol means 10, I’m so curious what Chan means. Hope you could help me find out, Thanks in advance ^_^

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- seoulawesome on 11/08/2012 at 00:59 said:
  
  his name might be Korean origin, which can mean “fruitful”
  
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  - soo ma on 11/09/2014 at 02:24 said:
    
    I’m really sorry…. I don’t get it… so is this is the meaning of the name “chanyeol” or just chan??? I would like to give my baby this name so I really need to know the real and origin meaning of it 🙂 hope am not disturbing and thanks a lot 🙂
chodingbaek on 09/08/2012 at 16:44 said:

Hi, i came across your post while trying to find the meaning of this korean name. Can u help tell me the meaning behind this name? Cho Jin-Ho (Hangul: 조진호, Hanja: 曹珍鎬)

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- seoulawesome on 11/08/2012 at 00:50 said:
  
  조(曹)-> surname: town
  진 (珍): valuable
  호(鎬): bright
  
  Reply ↓
MUNKYPOP.COM (@MUNKYPOPCOM) on 23/10/2012 at 23:40 said:

I’m looking for the meaning of the names Chang Yoon Suk and Lim Mee Ja……both Korean in origin. Thank you! I don’t know how to write them in either Hangul or Hanja, sorry!

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- seoulawesome on 21/12/2012 at 15:31 said:
  
  창윤석… 임미자
  
  Reply ↓
kari on 19/12/2012 at 15:51 said:

That would be my name in chinese….卡麗娜, can you make it into a korean one?

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- seoulawesome on 21/12/2012 at 15:29 said:
  
  Korean … 잡려나(Jab-ryeo-nah) or 카리나(Ka-Ri-Na)
  
  Reply ↓
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Starshadow on 14/04/2013 at 22:57 said:

Hi, I know this is an old blog entry but I recently read a book “Escape from Camp 14” by Shin Dong Hyuk…who changed his name from Shin In Geun. I’ve done a search and found the meanings for Dong and In but not for Hyuk or Geun…if you could tell me those, that would be awesome. Thanks in advance. I’m just curious as to the meaning and why he chose that change.

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- seoulawesome on 15/04/2013 at 11:52 said:
  
  hi there.
  
  there are various meanings and I need to know the Hanja (Chinese characters) before knowing the meaning as the Hangul (Korean Alphabets) are only the sound of the word. 혁, usually referring to Chinese character 赫 means bright and 근 has various meanings. it can mean 根 meaning roots and 勤 meaning diligent
  
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  - Paul on 15/04/2013 at 12:40 said:
    
    Many hanja characters for hangul. Is there only one Hanja per hangul or various hanja for one hangul character
    
    Example. 념 has many hanja. In korea do koreans only have one attachment of hanja for a hangul character? Or, for example 념 having more then one hanja people choose between the hanja’s 념 has?
  - seoulawesome on 15/04/2013 at 13:08 said:
    
    Yes, they do have only one Hanja attachment to their Hangul names.
    
    For example, a person named 박재상 has the Hanja name of 朴載相 while the other person with the same Hangul name 박재상 may have another Hanja name such as 朴才尙… which means their name pronounce in Korean is the same while the meaning and the Chinese character is different
simplyme on 15/04/2013 at 15:48 said:

hi there i just wanna ask what does 희우 熙優 means and 청희.
淸嬉 means and kyung nan i dont know the hanja for that .. thanks 🙂

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- seoulawesome on 15/04/2013 at 21:05 said:
  
  희(熙) – bright
  우 (優) – good
  
  청(淸) – clarity
  희(嬉) – joyful
  
  Reply ↓
simplyme on 15/04/2013 at 15:52 said:

hi there i just wanna ask what does 희우 熙優 means and 청희.
淸嬉 means and kyung nan i dont know the hanja for that .. thanks

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Tammy on 18/05/2013 at 07:15 said:

Anyong ha~se~yo, I came across your website while browsing the web for the Korean Hanja Alphabet. My husband and I are half Korean plus our 4 children. I know how to write Korean but was looking for the meanings. Although my sons have American names, are you able to tell me if they have a Korean meaning to them? And how to write it in Hanja? Their names are: Timothy (we call him TJ) and Jimmy. Can you also tell me the meaning for my daughters names: Sarah (Sa-La) and Mina (Mi-Na). Mi = beauty and Na has different chinese characters so I wanted to pick a way of writing it. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find the alphabet though. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

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- seoulawesome on 18/05/2013 at 10:21 said:
  
  For Timothy and Jimmy, since its in English, there is no equivalent Hanja (Chinese Characters). In Hangul (Korean Alphabet) it would be Timothy (티머시/Timeosi) and Jimmy (지미/Jimi). Jimi sounds more like a female name in Korean context…
  
  For Sarah, the Hangul alphabet would be 사라… in Hangul.
  The Hanja used can be 沙羅, meaning Sal Tree.
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shorea_robusta
  
  Mina would be 미나 in Hangul. The Hanja used may be 美娜 … both meaning beautiful
  
  Out of the four names, only Mina sounds Korean. do take note
  
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DinoLover on 05/06/2013 at 03:19 said:

Hi…. i’ve sort of looked every where for a Korean version of my name, can you help please???
my name is Shanzay which means princess or woman of great dignity… but its closer to princess
and i know that gongju (공주) is the word for princess but that isnt a name is it?
could you help me find the name that is closest to my names meaning?
Thankyou….<3

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- seoulawesome on 05/06/2013 at 11:20 said:
  
  Yes, You are right, 공주 (公主) means Princess.It’s rare for a person to name Gongju.
  
  Maybe u can name yourself San-jae (산재) or a more Korean sounding Name Sun-jae (선재)
  
  Reply ↓
  - DinoLover on 05/06/2013 at 21:53 said:
    
    oh thankyou….. erm what would be the meaning of those names then??? any idea 😀
- seoulawesome on 05/06/2013 at 23:10 said:
  
  선:Seon (善): kind
  재 Jae (在): to be present
  
  Reply ↓
  - DinoLover on 05/06/2013 at 23:16 said:
    
    aah that sounds well nice… Thankyou….
    😀
xSONExSECRETTIME on 27/06/2013 at 14:10 said:

I have a Korean name Park Youngkwang (박영광) and Jung IlYong (정일용) I just wanna now what it means. Thanks.

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- seoulawesome on 03/07/2013 at 12:49 said:
  
  similar hangul may have different hanjas as mentioned in my article. i will need to know the Hanja (Chinese Characters) of your name.
  
  For Youngkwang, the Hanja should be 榮光 … meaning Honor.
  
  Reply ↓
yeolmate on 12/07/2013 at 18:35 said:

hey can i ask you for an idol name’s meaning? his name is Jung Taekwoon [정택운
] can you please tell its meaning? thank you!

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- seoulawesome on 12/07/2013 at 20:18 said:
  
  Some sources state his Hanja name is정택운(鄭澤運). 정- Surname, 택- bright 운-turn
  
  Note that his hanja name is not official
  
  Reply ↓
yu on 27/07/2013 at 09:37 said:

Hi Could you help me with the translation? What will the name 游美云 be in korean? Thank you.

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- seoulawesome on 27/07/2013 at 17:05 said:
  
  유미운 (Yoo Mi-woon)
  
  Reply ↓
Jin on 31/07/2013 at 14:30 said:

Hi please help me with what the meaning of my name
(Male from south Korea)

Chung Jin Bae
I was told ages ago that it means something like
rightous little boy, is that korrect?

And how would you write it in korean?

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- seoulawesome on 31/07/2013 at 15:54 said:
  
  Probably 배충진?
  
  I won’t know the exact meaning because there’s no hanja. 충 is probably 忠 which can be translated as loyal
  
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Erinna A. Lestari on 15/08/2013 at 05:04 said:

hi 🙂
can I ask you the meaning and Hanja of 순중용? Is it right that the meaning is ‘everlasting peace & love/affection’??
thank you~:)

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- seoulawesome on 17/08/2013 at 22:56 said:
  
  as mentioned, i need to know the Hanja as Hangul is just alphabets. thanks.
  
  Reply ↓
  - Erinna A. Lestari on 30/08/2013 at 00:59 said:
    
    how about this “安愛永”? Is it good? 🙂
  - seoulawesome on 30/08/2013 at 22:20 said:
    
    It will be “안애영 (Ahn Ae Young)” in Hangul
    
    sounds good to me …
    
    安 – peaceful 愛 – love 永 – long (time)
LN on 21/08/2013 at 08:12 said:

Hi. I just wondering to make a korean name based on my name. Liyana. And I want to know the meaning of Eun Byul and Eun Kyu. Or if the arrangement is wrong, please tell me. Thank you.

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- seoulawesome on 22/08/2013 at 10:24 said:
  
  Eun Byul is something like graceful star or good star
  
  Reply ↓
Bogo on 18/10/2013 at 21:29 said:

Hi. So the only way we are able to understand hangul wiritng through names and sentences, is by knowing how to read hanja? ~

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- seoulawesome on 19/10/2013 at 14:19 said:
  
  yes. if the name is hanja origin
  
  Reply ↓
Chelly Wood on 21/10/2013 at 19:55 said:

Hello,

I’m an American writer, and I want to name a Korean character something like “Flint” (the stone). Can you help me think of a genuine Korean family name that sounds like or means “flint”?

Feel free to e-mail me, if you can see my e-mail when you approve this comment.

Thank you!

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- seoulawesome on 23/10/2013 at 10:37 said:
  
  hi there.
  
  it’s difficult to find a Korean family name that sounds like “Flint” since “F” is absence in the Korean Language.
  
  For similar meaning, maybe “Seok 석(石)” which means stone
  
  Reply ↓
Daphne Chloe Dino on 17/11/2013 at 20:47 said:

Hi!! My chinese name is 黄婉瑛. It was given to me by my grandmother. But unfortunately I do not know the meaning of it. And can that be translated to hangul? What would it be if its translated?
Thanks in advance 😀

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- seoulawesome on 20/11/2013 at 09:07 said:
  
  황완영 (Hwang Wan-young)
  
  Reply ↓
  - Daphne Chloe Dino on 30/11/2013 at 14:34 said:
    
    oh thank you!!! 😀 if you don’t mind, what’s the meaning of it? I really wanna know 🙂
- seoulawesome on 08/12/2013 at 15:38 said:
  
  婉: Gentle
  瑛: Shine of Gem
  
  Reply ↓
  - Daphne Chloe Dino on 27/12/2013 at 17:55 said:
    
    Is the name in hangul sounds like a girl’s name?
  - seoulawesome on 28/12/2013 at 19:59 said:
    
    yes
T. on 08/12/2013 at 07:26 said:

Hello, I would like to know what does the last name ‘Do’ mean in Korean.

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- seoulawesome on 08/12/2013 at 15:34 said:
  
  도(都) capital
  
  Reply ↓
  - T. on 09/12/2013 at 13:42 said:
    
    Thank you very much 🙂
laura on 09/12/2013 at 04:43 said:

Hi, we just adopted a male Jindo dog. I’m looking for a strong sounding male two syllable Korean name that represents the characteristics of this loyal and brave dog, can you tell me some (and how they would be said and spelled in English)? Thanks.

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- seoulawesome on 09/12/2013 at 12:39 said:
  
  how about 충용 (choongyong)… which means loyal and brave.
  
  Reply ↓
RKL on 08/01/2014 at 16:10 said:

Hi, I am trying to get the translation for the name ” 林凯宁 ” into Korean. Can you help? What is the meaning? How do I spell the name when romanized? Does the pronounction or meaning sounds bad. Thank you.

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- seoulawesome on 11/01/2014 at 13:47 said:
  
  Pronounce as Im Gae-nyung (임개녕).
  凱(개); return in triumph
  寧 (녕): peaceful
  
  Reply ↓
  - RKL on 13/01/2014 at 08:36 said:
    
    Thank you.
Iana on 12/01/2014 at 05:12 said:

Hi! Can you help me? I `ve read that the name 성희 has the meaning: 성 as “winning, successor” and 희 as “joy,pleasure”. What hanja simbols should i use in such meanings? thank you

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- seoulawesome on 12/01/2014 at 14:17 said:
  
  成喜
  
  Reply ↓
Han Byul on 03/02/2014 at 09:51 said:

How would you write Han Byul in hangul? Is it common if Han is the last name and Byul is the first name?

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- seoulawesome on 03/02/2014 at 17:40 said:
  
  한별 …
  
  it’s possible to have Han as last name and Byul as first name
  
  Reply ↓
  - Han byul on 03/02/2014 at 19:08 said:
    
    Thank you for the quick reply! 🙂
Han Byul on 09/02/2014 at 12:15 said:

Hi! I was wondering what the meaning behind Kim Jae Joon and the Korean and Chinese characters were. Thank you for your help!

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- seoulawesome on 15/02/2014 at 10:16 said:
  
  there are many chinese characters for Jae and Joon. Kim will be 김/金
  
  Reply ↓
  - Han byul on 15/02/2014 at 11:03 said:
    
    Thank you!
Diane on 10/02/2014 at 01:59 said:

Hi! I’m looking for a cute girl name that means either beautiful girl or beautiful smile. I have seen Mi-Cha for beautiful girl (are there any others?) but nothing for beautiful smile. I have seen that Mi means beautiful and that So means smile in Korean and didn’t know if you put them together if they would keep their same meaning. Also could you write the Hanja symbols for them also please. Thank you!

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Angela Pedro on 14/02/2014 at 13:00 said:

Hi. Could you give me the meaning of this name, 이찬희? I do not know what is the hanja conversion of that name but could give me some possible meaning of this name. Thanks.

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- seoulawesome on 15/02/2014 at 10:23 said:
  
  if you meant the member of teentop …
  李 – common Korean surname
  燦 – (빛나다) bright/ glorious
  熺 – (빛나다 ) bright/glorious
  
  Reply ↓
  - Angela Pedro on 15/03/2014 at 23:35 said:
    
    Thanks for replying.
    Can I ask Woo Bin name mean?
    Thank You
Daphne on 31/03/2014 at 17:21 said:

Hello! What’s the Korean translation for this: 谭卓枫
Its my friend’s name, actually. 😀
Thank you.

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Daphne on 01/04/2014 at 12:40 said:

Hello! May I know the Korean translation for this Chinese name: 谭卓枫
Thank you. 🙂

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Chelly Wood on 15/04/2014 at 19:43 said:

A friend told me that brothers usually have a similar first name, like Kim Min-Jun and Kim Min-Ho, or something like that. Can you verify? In this case, I understand that Kim is their family name. Would they also have the same Min- prefix?

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- seoulawesome on 16/04/2014 at 23:43 said:
  
  yes. It is usually the norm to have similar middle name. However, its not always the case especially with the younger generation
  
  Reply ↓
angelo on 23/04/2014 at 12:40 said:

hi, i really want to know the meaning of this girl’s name 윤란희

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Haneul on 04/07/2014 at 03:54 said:

hello.
how do you judge this name for a girl ?
임하늘
this is a name that my korean friends given to me, and i have gotten used to it . i dont want to change it , but how do u see it in korea?

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Ronily R. AcabaL on 21/07/2015 at 08:45 said:

Hi..can you please help and give what is my Korean Name? I’d love to go to your place.I’m a fan of your Korean Drama. I was born on October 17, 1990. Ronily is My First name here in the Philippines…Thanks for the quick response… kamsahameada 🙂

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Takashi Yamamoto on 13/11/2015 at 23:41 said:

hi.. im a girl and i need to know about 규령 meaning.. tnx!!

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Han Hyo Joo on 29/06/2018 at 22:48 said:

WOW I Like Korean Names…

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