List of Korean given names


This is a list of Korean given names by type. Most Korean given names consist of two Sino-Korean morphemes each written with one hanja. There are also names with more than two syllables, often from native Korean vocabulary. Finally, there are a small number of one-syllable names. Originally, there was no legal limitation on the length of names, but since 1993, regulations in South Korea have prohibited the registration of given names longer than five syllable blocks, in response to some parents giving their children extremely long names such as the 16-syllable Haneulbyeollimgureumhaennimbodasarangseureouri.
Lists of hanja for names are illustrative, not exhaustive.

Names by common first and second syllables

G or k (ㄱ), n (ㄴ), d (ㄷ)

First syllable →
Second syllable ↓
Kyung
Kwang
Kyu
Ki
Nam
Da
Dae
Do
Dong
Kyung
GeunDong-geun
GiNam-gi
NamKi-nam
MiDa-mi
MinKyung-minKwang-minDong-min
BinKyu-binDa-binDong-bin
SeokKyung-seokKwang-seokDong-suk
Seon/SunKyung-sunKwang-seonNam-seonDae-sun
SeongDae-sung
SooKyung-sooKwang-suDong-soo
SookKyung-sook
Sik/ShikKyung-sikKwang-sikDae-sik
A/AhKyung-ah
YeonKi-yeonDa-yeonDo-yeonDong-yeon
YoungKyu-youngKi-youngDa-youngDae-youngDo-youngDong-young
OkKyung-ok
YongKi-yong
WooKi-wooDong-woo
WookDong-wook
WoongKi-woongDae-woong
YoonKyung-yoonKi-yoonDo-yoonDong-yoon
WonKyung-wonKyu-wonKi-wonDae-wonDo-wonDong-won
IlKyung-ilKwang-ilKyu-ilNam-ilDae-ilDong-il
EunKyung-eunDa-eun
JaKyung-ja
JaeKyung-jae
JungKi-jungDa-jung
JooKyung-juDong-joo
JoonKyung-joonKwang-joonKi-joonNam-joonDae-joonDo-joonDong-jun
JiNam-ji
JinKyung-jinKwang-jinDo-jinDong-jin
ChulKyung-chulKyu-chulKi-chulDae-chulDong-chul
TaeKyung-taeKyu-taeKi-tae
HanDae-han
HaKyung-haKyu-haKi-haDo-haDong-ha
HyukKwang-hyokKyu-hyukKi-hyukNam-hyukDae-hyukDo-hyukDong-hyuk
HyunKyung-hyunKwang-hyunKyu-hyunKi-hyunDa-hyunDae-hyunDo-hyunDong-hyun
HyeKyung-hyeDa-hye
HoKyung-hoKwang-hoKi-hoNam-hoDong-ho
HwaKyung-hwa
HwanKyung-hwanKwang-hwanKyu-hwanKi-hwanDo-hwanDong-hwan
Hoon, HunKyung-hoonKwang-hoonKi-hoonDae-hoonDo-hunDong-hoon
HeeKyung-heeKwang-heeKyu-heeNam-heeDa-heeDae-heeDo-hee

M (ㅁ), b (ㅂ)

First syllable →
Second syllable ↓
Man
Myung
Mun/Moon
Mi
Min
Bo
Beom
Byung
KyungMi-kyungMin-kyungBo-kyung
Gun/GeonByoung-gon
Guk/KookMin-guk
Gyu/KyuMin-kyuBeom-kyu
Geun
Gi/KiMan-kiMin-ki
Nam
Mi
Min
Bin
SeokMan-seokMin-seokBeom-seok
Seon/SunMyung-sunMi-sunMin-sunBo-sun
SeongMin-seong
SooMan-sooMyung-sooMoon-sooMin-sooBeom-sooByung-soo
SookMyung-sookMoon-sookMi-sookMin-sook
Sik/ShikMan-sikMoon-sik
SeMan-se
A/AhMina, Min-ahBo-a
Yeon/YunMi-yeonBo-yeon
YoungMoon-youngMi-youngMin-youngBo-young
OkMan-okMyung-okMoon-okMi-okMin-okByung-ok
YongMoon-yongMin-yong
WooMyung-wooMin-wooBeom-wooByung-woo
WookMyung-wookMin-wookByung-wook
WoongMin-woong
YoonByung-yoon
WonMyung-won
IlByung-il
EunMin-eun
JaMyung-jaMi-jaMin-ja
JaeMin-jaeByung-jae
JungMoon-jungMi-jungMin-jung
JooMi-jooMin-ju
JoonMyung-junMin-joonBeom-joonByung-joon
JiMin-jiByung-ji
JinMyung-jinMi-jin
ChulMoon-chulMin-chulBeom-chulByung-chul
TaeMin-tae
HaMin-haByung-ha
HyukMoon-hyukMin-hyuk
HyunByung-hyun
HyeMoon-hyeMin-hye
HoMan-hoMoon-hoMin-hoBeom-hoByung-ho
Hwa
HwanMyung-hwanMin-hwan
HoonMyung-hoonMin-hoonByung-hoon
HeeMan-heeMyung-heeMoon-heeMi-heeMin-heeByung-hee

S (ㅅ)

First syllable →
Second syllable ↓
Sang
Seo
Seok/Suk
Seon/Sun
Seol
Seong/Sung
Se
So
Soo/Su
Soon
Shi/Si
Shin
Seung/Sung
KyungSeong-gyeongSoo-kyungSi-kyung
GeunSung-keunSoo-geunSeung-geun
GiSung-kiSeung-gi
NamSung-namSeung-nam
MiSang-miSun-miSung-miSe-miSo-miSu-miSeung-mi
MinSang-minSun-minSung-minSo-minSoo-minSeung-min
BinSun-binSung-binSe-binSo-binSu-binSeung-bin
Seok
Seon
Seong
SooSang-sooSung-sooSeung-soo
SookSun-sookSung-sook
Sik/ShikSang-sikSeung-sik
A/AhSang-ahSun-ahSeol-ahSung-ahSoo-ahSi-ahSeung-ah
An/AhnSi-an
EonSeo-eonSi-eonSeung-eon
YeonSeo-yeonSeok-yeonSe-yeonSo-yeonSu-yeonSi-yeonSeung-yeon
YoungSeo-youngSun-youngSe-youngSo-youngSoo-youngSi-youngShin-young
OkSeon-okSung-okSun-okSeung-ok
YongSung-yongShi-yongSeung-yong
WooSang-wooSeo-wooSun-wooSung-wooSi-wooShin-wooSeung-woo
WookSang-wookSun-wookSung-wookSe-wookShi-wookSeung-wook
WoongSun-woongSe-woongSi-woong
Yoon/YunSang-yoonSeo-yunSung-yoonSe-yoonSi-yoonSeung-yoon
WonSang-wonSeo-wonSung-wonSe-wonSo-wonSu-wonSi-wonSeung-won
IlSung-ilShin-ilSeung-il
EunSang-eunSeo-eunSung-eunSe-eunSo-eunSi-eunSeung-eun
JaSun-jaSeong-jaSoon-ja
JaeSun-jaeSung-jaeSoon-jaeSeung-jae
JungSeo-jungSe-jungSo-jungSoo-jungSi-jung
Joo/JuSeok-jooSun-juSung-juSeung-ju
Joon/JunSang-junSeo-junSeok-junSun-junSung-junSe-joonShi-junSeung-jun
JiSu-jiShin-ji
JinSang-jinSeo-jinSeok-jinSun-jinSung-jinSe-jinSoo-jinSeung-jin
ChulSang-chulSung-chulSeung-chul
TaeSung-taeSeung-tae
HaSeo-haSung-haSi-haSeung-ha
HakSang-hak
HyukSang-hyukSung-hyukSe-hyukSu-hyukSi-hyukSeung-hyuk
HyunSang-hyunSeo-hyunSeol-hyunSung-hyunSo-hyunSu-hyunSi-hyunSeung-hyun
HyeSun-hyeSung-hyeSu-hyeShin-hyeSeung-hye
HoSang-hoSeok-hoSun-hoSung-hoSe-hoSu-hoShi-hoSeung-ho
HwaSang-hwaSun-hwa
HwanSeok-hwanSung-hwanSe-hwanShi-hwanSeung-hwan
HoonSang-hoonSeok-hoonSung-hoonSe-hoonSo-hoonSi-hoonSeung-hoon
HeeSang-heeSeo-heeSeok-heeSun-heeSung-heeSe-heeSo-heeSoo-heeSoon-heeSeung-hee

Vowels and semivowels (ㅇ)

First syllable →
Second syllable ↓
Yeon
Young
Ye
Yong
Woo
Won
Yoo/Yu
Yoon/Yun
In
Eun
KyungWon-kyungYoo-kyungIn-kyungEun-kyung
GeunYoung-geun
GiYoung-giYong-giWon-giYoon-giEun-gi
NamYoung-namYong-namEun-nam
MiYoung-miWon-miYumiYoon-miEun-mi
MinYoung-minWoo-minYoo-minYoon-min
BinYoung-binYe-binWoo-binWon-binYu-binYoon-binEun-bin
Seok/SukYeon-seokYoung-seokYong-seokWoo-seokWon-seokYoo-sukYun-seokIn-seokEun-seok
Seon/SunYoung-sunWoo-sunYu-sunYoon-sunEun-sun
Seong/SungYe-sungYong-seongWoo-sungYoo-sungYoon-sungIn-sungEun-sung
Soo/SuYeon-suYoung-suYong-suYoon-suIn-sooEun-su
Sook/SukYeon-sukYoung-sukYe-sookWon-sukYoon-sukIn-sookEun-sook
Sik/ShikYoung-shikYong-sikWoo-shikWon-sikYoon-sikIn-sikEun-sik
A/AhYun-ahYoung-ahYoon-ahEun-ah
Yeon/YunYoung-yeonWoo-yeonYu-yeon
Young/YeongYe-youngWoo-youngWon-youngYu-youngYoon-youngIn-youngEun-young
OkYeong-okWon-okYoon-okIn-okEun-ok
YongWon-yongIn-yongEun-yong
Woo/WuYeon-wooYoung-wooYong-wooWon-wooYoon-wooIn-wooEun-woo
WookYoung-wookYong-wookIn-wookEun-wook
WoongYeon-woongWon-woongIn-woong
Yoon/YunYoung-yun
WonYoung-wonYe-wonWoo-wonYu-won
IlYoung-ilYong-ilWoo-ilWon-ilYoon-ilEun-il
EunYoung-eunYe-eun
JaYeon-jaYoung-jaYong-jaWon-jaYoon-jaEun-ja
JaeYeon-jaeYoung-jaeYong-jaeWoo-jaeWon-jaeYoo-jaeYoon-jaeEun-jae
JungYeon-jungWoo-jungWon-jungYoo-jungYoon-jungIn-jungEun-jung
Joo/JuYeon-juYoung-jooWoo-juWon-juYoo-juYoon-juEun-ju
Joon/JunYoung-junYe-junYong-junWoo-junWon-junYoo-junYoon-junIn-jun
JiYeon-jiYoung-jiYe-jiYoon-jiEun-ji
JinYeon-jinYoung-jinYe-jinYong-jinWoo-jinWon-jinYu-jinYoon-jinEun-jin
ChulYoung-chulYong-chulWoo-chulWon-chulYoon-chulIn-chulEun-chul
TaeYoung-taeYong-taeWoo-taeWon-taeYoon-taeIn-tae
HaYoung-haYong-haYoon-haIn-haEun-ha
HyukWoo-hyukYoon-hyukIn-hyukEun-hyuk
HyunYoung-hyunYong-hyunWoo-hyunYoo-hyun
HyeYoung-hyeYoon-hyeIn-hyeEun-hye
HoYoung-hoYong-hoWon-hoYoon-hoIn-ho
HwaYoung-hwa
HwanYoung-hwanYong-hwan
HoonYoung-hoonYe-hoon
HeeYeon-heeYoung-heeYong-heeWoo-heeWon-heeYoon-heeEun-hee

J (ㅈ) and ch (ㅊ)

T (ㅌ) and h (ㅎ)

Native Korean names

Goyueo ireum are Korean given names which come from native Korean vocabulary, rather than Sino-Korean roots. These names have been used on occasion for centuries, but they only began to become widespread in South Korea in the late 20th century. They do not have corresponding hanja, though in some cases, these names might be represented using hanja with . However, this is not possible for all names; for example, for Ha-neul, there are no hanja with the reading "neul" on the South Korean government's official list of hanja which may be registered for use in given names.
Since the late 1970s, the frequency of parents giving their children names that are native Korean words, usually of two syllables, has increased. Popular given names of this sort include Haneul, Areum, Iseul and Seulgi. Between 2008 and 2015, the proportion of such names among South Korean newborns rose from 3.5% to 7.7%. The most popular native names in 2015 were Hangyeol for boys and Sarang for girls. Despite this trend away from traditional practice, people's names are still recorded in both hangul and hanja on official documents, in family genealogies, and so on.
Common spellingSexMcCune–
Reischauer
Revised RomanisationHangulMeaning
Ga-ramUnisexKaramGa-ram가람River
Ga-eulFeminineKaŭlGa-eul가을Autumn, fall
Gyeo-woolFeminineKyŏulGyeo-ul겨울Winter
Go-eunFeminineKoŭnGo-eun고은From goun, meaning "delicate".
Gu-reumFeminineGurŭmGu-reum구름Cloud
Gu-seulFeminineGusŭlGu-seul구슬Glass bead, crystal ball, jewel
Geu-rooUnisexGŭruGeu-roo그루Trees
KkotFeminineKKotKkotFlower
Na-gilMasculineNakilNa-gil나길My way
Na-raUnisexNaraNa-ra나라Country, nation, kingdom
NarabitUnisexNarapitNa-ra-bit나라빛Shining country, shining nation
NarauramMasculineNarauramNa-ra-woo-ram나라우람Robust or vigorous country, robust or vigorous nation
Na-raeFeminineNaraeNa-rae나래From nal-gae, meaning "wing".
Na-mooMasculineNamuNa-mu나무From jeonnamu, meaning "fir". 나무 directly translates to "tree" in english.
Na-riFeminineNariNa-ri나리Lily
Na-bomFeminineNapomNa-bom나봄My spring
Na-biFeminineNapiNa-bi나비Butterfly
Na-bitFeminineNa-pitNa-bit나빛My light
No-eulFeminineNoŭlNo-eul노을Sunset
Noo-riUnisexNuriNu-ri누리Ancient Korean variation of the word ubak, meaning "hail".
Da-raeFeminineTaraeDa-rae다래Fruit of the actinidiaceae.
Da-somFeminineTasomDa-som다솜Ancient Korean variation of the word sarang, meaning "love".
Dan-biFeminineTalpiDan-bi단비Sweet rain, welcome rain, timely rain.
DalMasculineTalDalMoon
Dal-raeFeminineTalraeDal-rae달래From dalraeda, meaning "soothing, lull". Also, Korean wild chive.
Dam-biFeminineTampiDam-bi담비Marten, sable
Du-riUnisexTuriDu-ri두리Two, couple
Ra-onFeminineRaonRa-on라온Ancient Korean variation of the word jeulgeoun, meaning "joyful".
Ra-woomFeminineRaumRa-um라움From areumdaum, meaning "beautiful".
Ma-riFeminineMariMari마리Ancient Korean version of the word choiseon, meaning "the best".
Ma-eumFeminineMaŭmMa-eum마음Mind, heart
Mi-raeFeminineMiraeMi-rae미래Future
Mit-eumMasculineMitŭmMit-eum믿음Belief, trust
MindeulleFeminineMindŭlreMin-deul-re민들레Dandelion
Ba-daFemininePataBa-da바다Sea
Ba-ramUnisexParamBa-ram바람Wind
Beo-deulMasculinePŏtŭlBeo-deul버들From beodeunamu, meaning "willow".
ByeolFemininePyŏlByeolStar
ByeolbitFemininePyŏlpitByeol-bit별빛Starlight
Byeol-jjiFemininePyŏl'tchiByeol-jji별찌North Korea word meaning "meteor".
BomFemininePomBomSpring
Bo-daFemininePodaBo-da보다From the verb boda, meaning "to see, to look at".
Bo-raFemininePoraBo-ra보라Purple
Bo-ramFemininePoramBo-ram보람Valuable, worthwhile
BitgaramMasculinePitkaramBit-ga-ram빛가람Shining river
Bit-naFemininePitnaBit-na빛나Shining
BiFemininePiBiRain
Sa-rangFeminineSarangSa-rang사랑Love
SandaraFeminineSantaraSan-da-ra산다라Wise, clever
SaemMasculineSaemSaemSpring, fountain.
Sae-ronFeminineSaeronSae-ron새론From saeroun, meaning "new".
Sae-romFeminineSaeromSae-rom새롬From saeroun, meaning "new".
Sae-byeokFeminineSaepyŏkSae-byeok새벽Dawn, daybreak
SaetbyeolFeminineSaetbyŏlSaet-byeol샛별Morning star
So-raFeminineSoraSo-ra소라Conch shell
So-riFeminineSoriSo-ri소리Voice
SolUnisexSolSolPine
Song-yiFeminineSongiSong-i송이A bunch, a clump, a cluster, a group.
Seul-kiUnisexSŭlgiSeul-gi슬기Wisdom
Ah-raFeminineAraAh-ra아라From the verb ara, meaning "to know, to be wise".
Ah-rongFeminineArongAh-rong아롱Awkward
Ah-reumFeminineArŭmA-reum아름Beauty
Ah-riFeminineAriAh-ri아리Beloved
Yeo-reumFeminineYŏrŭmYeo-reum여름Summer
Woo-riUnisexUriU-ri우리We
Eu-tteumMasculineŬttŭmEu-tteum으뜸Basis, foundation, the best, the head, the top
I-seulFeminineIsŭlI-seul이슬Dew
Ja-ramUnisexCharamJa-ram자람From the verb jarada, meaning "to grow".
Jo-eunFeminineChoŭnJo-eun조은From joheun, meaning "good".
Cho-rongFeminineCh'orongCho-rong초롱Silk-covered lantern, also from the onomatopoeia chorong chorong, meaning "sparkling" or "bright".
Ha-naFeminineHanaHa-na하나One
Ha-neulUnisexHanŭlHa-neul하늘Sky
Ha-nuiFeminineHanŭiHa-nui하늬Westerly winds
Ha-daUnisexHataHa-da하다From the verb hada, meaning "to do".
Ha-ruUnisexHaruHa-ru하루Day
Ha-yanUnisexHayanHa-yan하얀White, pure, pale
Han-gyeolMasculineHankyŏlHan-gyeol한결Unity
Han-gilMasculineHankilHan-gil한길One way
Han-woolUnisexHanulHan-ul한울Ancient Korean variation of the word haneul, meaning "heavenly".
Haet-salFeminineHaetsalHaet-sal햇살Sunlight
Haet-bitFeminineHaetbitHaetpit햇빛Sunshine
Him-chanMasculineHimch'anHim-chan힘찬Strong

There are also some mixed names: those in which a single name contains both a Sino-Korean element and a native Korean element.
Common spellingSexMcCune–
Reischauer
Revised RomanisationHangulSino-Korean partNative Korean part
Eun-byulFeminineŬnbyŏlEun-byeol은별, star
Eun-biFeminineŬnbiEun-bi은비, rain

Other names

This section is for names not included in the above sections. Names are listed in South Korean hangul alphabetical order.
Common spellingSexMcCune–
Reischauer
Revised RomanisationHangul
Ga-youngFeminineKayŏngGa-yeong가영
Kang-minMasculineKangminGangmin강민
Kyung-guMasculineKyŏng'guGyeong-gu경구
Kyung-limUnisexKyŏngnimGyeong-nim경님
Kyung-moMasculineKyŏngmoGyeong-mo경모
Kyung-wanUnisexKyŏng'wanGyeong-wan경완
Kyung-taekMasculineKyŏngtaekGyeong-taek경택
Kwang-joMasculineKwangjoGwang-jo광조
Na-youngFeminineNayŏngNa-yeong나영
Nam-kyuMasculineNamgyuNam-gyu남규
Nam-sunUnisexNamsunNam-sun남순
Deok-suMasculineTŏksuDeok-su덕수
Dong-gunMasculineTong'gŏnDong-geon동건
Mu-yeolMasculineMuyŏlMu-yeol무열
Mu-youngMasculineMuyŏngMu-yeong무영
Mi-ranFeminineMiranMi-ran미란
Min-seoFeminineMinsŏMin-seo민서
Byung-hunMasculinePyŏnghŏnByeongheon병헌
Seong-hanMasculineSŏnghanSeong-han성한
Sook-jaFeminineSukjaSuk-ja숙자
Seung-heonMasculineSŭng'hŏnSeung-heon승헌
Ae-jungFeminineAejŏngAe-jeong애정
Yeo-jinFeminineYŏjinYeo-jin여진
Young-shinUnisexYŏng'sinYeong-sin영신
Young-aeFeminineYŏng'aeYeong-ae영애
Oh-seongMasculineOsŏngO-seong오성
Yo-hanMasculineYohanYo-han요한
Yu-riFeminineYuriYu-ri유리
Eun-chaeFeminineŬnchaeEun-chae은채
Yi-kyungFeminineYigyǒngYi-gyeong이경
Yi-sooMasculineYisuYi-su이수
Il-sungMasculineIlsǒngIlseong일성
Ja-kyungUnisexChagyŏngJa-gyeong자경
Jang-miFeminineChangmiJangmi장미
Jae-gyuUnisexChaegyuJaegyu재규
Jae-beomMasculineChaebŏmJaebeom재범
Jae-seopMasculineChaesŏpJaeseop재섭
Jae-shinUnisexChaesinJaesin재신
Jae-inUnisexChaeinJaein재인
Ji-haeUnisexChihaeJi-hae지해
Chul-soonMasculineCh'ŏlsunCheol-sun철순
Chi-wonMasculineCh'iwŏnChi-won치원
Hyun-seungMasculineHyŏnsŭngHyeonseung현승
Hye-rinFeminineHyerinHye-rin혜린
Hye-rimFeminineHyerimHye-rim혜림

Single-syllable names