211 Korean Baby Names Reflecting Their Culture

Korea has a diverse and rich heritage, combined with a complex history. Korean baby names are unique, just like the language, culture, and people. Over half the Korean population use three main surnames, Park, Kim, and Lee. So, if you wish for your munchkin to stand out from the crowd, you must pick a unique name for them. A Korean name is composed of a family name, followed by a given name. Korean first names are based on Hangul, the official writing system for the Korean language (1), and Hanja, which is the older, more traditional script. Hanja comes from Chinese, but Hangul has Korean origins. These based names symbolize virtues like filial piety, hard work, and humility. Such qualities are considered of utmost importance in Korean culture (2). For years, parents could only select a name from the list of approved names issued by the government. This trend has fallen to the wayside now. Parents today opt for names derived from their native Korean language. It’s also important to note that given names are not used in day-to-day life. Referring to oneself using one’s first name is considered childish. But referring to superiors, family or otherwise, by their first name is considered incredibly rude. First names are private and used only by close friends and family. Korean given names are also known for their rhythmic syllables and poetic tones. Each syllable has significance, giving the name layers of meaning and emotional resonance. Parents also prefer looking for names inspired by nature's beauty, depicting elements like flowers, rivers, and mountains. Koreans value filial piety and giving ancestors their due reverence. Baby names create a channel to show such respect. Thus, these names can be considered a linguistic link that connects the past with the present and shapes future generations. Below is a list of Korean baby names with meanings for you. You can shortlist and save your favorites for future use.

Name		Gender	Meaning
Kaeson		Unisex	Strength; Resilience; Determination
Ailee		Girl	Exalted; Noble leader
Ahri		Unisex	Beautiful, Fox-like, Enchanting
Joon		Boy	A man who is exceptionally talented
Yena		Unisex	One who is talented and artistic
Tae		Boy	Great; Honor; Brave
Bong		Boy	A mythical bird, probably a phoenix
Bora		Boy	Snow; Excellent; Brave
Taeo		Unisex	Innovative; Ambitious
Kwan		Boy	Strong
Mee		Girl	A beautiful woman
Yujin		Unisex	Abundance or precious treasure
Geon		Unisex	Respect
Juniel		Girl	youthful, talented, cheerful
Jung		Boy	A righteous man
Korea		Girl	Country in East Asia
Somi		Unisex	Beautiful; Graceful
Kyung		Boy	Respect
Seung		Boy	Successor; Winning
Dong		Boy	East
Chriselle		Unisex	Graceful and vibrant
Yong		Unisex	Perpetual, eternal
Taemin		Boy	Bright or shining spirit
Yuhan		Unisex	Gift of the universe
Jiwoo		Unisex	God's protection; Protected by God
Jisoo		Unisex	Wisdom and excellence
Jaemin		Unisex	Prosperous; Talented; Ambitious
Eun		Girl	Silver
Hajoon		Unisex	Summer; Great; Talented
Jaewon		Unisex	Principled leader with ambition
Kyu		Boy	Standard
Aeri		Unisex	Airy, ethereal, beautiful
Yubin		Girl	Jewel; Precious
Young		Unisex	Youthful, energetic, lively
Mirae		Unisex	Future
Chae		Unisex	Colorful; Multicolored
Soojin		Unisex	Graceful; Intelligent; Diligent
Hae		Girl	A girl who is like an ocean
Sung		Girl	Successor or one on the verge of winning
Yoona		Girl	Graceful; Talented; Radiant
Min		Girl	A clever person; Sharp-minded; Quick-responding person
Yerin		Girl	Graceful or cherished beauty
Yoon		Girl	Allow; Consent
Soo		Girl	A charitable, kind, and noble person
Yun		Girl	Cloud
Hyun		Unisex	Bright; Intelligent; Variant of Hyeon; Virtuous
Hyun-Ki		Boy	The foundation of wisdom
Hyun-Shik		Boy	The roots of wisdom
Chul		Boy	Firm; something that is neither soft nor very hard
Da		Unisex	To attain
Dae		Unisex	The great one; Shining
Daeshim		Boy	Greatest mind
Gi		Girl	One who is brave
Hoe		Girl	A garden tool used to loosen soil; A Korean dish of raw fish
Hye		Boy	A bright and intelligent man
Hyo		Girl	One with a filial duty
Jee		Unisex	To know; Wisdom
Ji		Unisex	A Korean name; Wisdom and intellect
Jii		Boy	Wisdom or intelligence
Jum		Boy	King, Ruler
Ki		Unisex	The one who has arisen
Korain		Boy	One who is luminous and glorious
Mishil		Girl	A beautiful kingdom; An admired dynasty
Sook		Girl	She who is of pure nature
Kwang		Girl	Deer
Ae-Cha		Girl	A loving daughter
Baek-Hyeon		Unisex
Beom-Seok		Unisex
Bitgaram		Boy	Light river
Bong-Cha		Girl	The ultimate girl
Bon-Hwa		Boy	One who is glorious
Chin-Hae		Boy	Truth or depth of the ocean
Chin-Hwa		Boy	The most prosperous and wealthiest of all
Chin-Mae		Boy	Truth; A person who always speaks the truth
Chin-Sun		Girl	The one who seeks truth and goodness in everything; Truth and goodness
Choon-Hee		Girl	A girl born at the time of spring
Chul-Moo		Boy	The weapon of iron
Chun-Hei		Unisex
Chung-Ae		Unisex
Chung-Cha		Girl	A righteous and chaste girl
Chung-Hee		Boy	One who is righteous and dutiful
Chung-Ho		Boy	A righteous lake
Dae-Ho		Boy	A great personality
Dae-Hyun		Boy	Great and honorable
Dae-Jung		Boy	Great and righteous; Honest
Dong-Min		Boy	East and cleverness
Dong-Sun		Boy	Goodness of the east
Dong-Yul		Boy	One having the passion of the east
Du		Girl	Head
Duck-Hwan		Boy	Return of the virtue
Duck-Young		Boy	The virtue is unchanging and everlasting
Du-Ho		Boy	Head and goodness
Eui		Girl	Righteousness
Eun-Ae		Unisex
Eun-Jung		Unisex
Eun-Kyung		Girl	A graceful gem
Goo		Girl	Complete
Hae-Won		Girl	Graceful and beautiful garden
Hak-Kun		Boy	One with literate roots
Haneul		Boy	Heaven; Sky

Infographic: Cute Korean Names For Your Adorable Child

Korean names are known for their sweet sounds and strong meanings. Names in this language are generally three syllables long, with the first syllable representing the child's family. Many of these words have plenty of variations. So, exploring one for your child is definitely an exciting experience. This infographic will list some wonderful Korean baby names.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team