Korea is a country with complex and rich history and a diverse heritage background. And just like culture and people, even Korean baby names are unique. Just three surnames, namely Park, Lee, and Kim are used by over half of the Korean population. So if you wish your child to stand out from the crowd, you have to pick a unique name for your munchkin.
A Korean name comprises a family name, followed by a given name. The Korean first names are based on Hangul, which is alphabetical script and Hanja, which are logo-syllabic characters. Hanja are Chinese characters and Hangul are Korean native alphabets. For years, parents could select a name from the list of approved names issued by the government. The trend has fallen to the wayside now. Parents are now opting for names derived from traditional Korean words. Baby girls are generally given two-syllable names. It’s also important to note that given names are not used in day to day life. The given names are very private and are used only by close friends and family.
Below is MomJunction's list of Korean baby names with meanings for you to choose from. You can shortlist and save your favorites for future use.
NAMES | MEANING | GENDER | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ae-Cha (애차) | A loving daughter | Girl | |||
Baek Hyeon (백현) | Baek means older brother and Hyeon means worthy and virtuous. Hence, the name means virtuous brother | Boy | |||
Beom Seok (범석) | Beom means model, rule or pattern and Seok means like a rock. Hence, the name means pattern of a rock. | Boy | |||
Bitgaram (비트 가람) | Light river | Boy | |||
Bon-Hwa (봉화) | One who is glorious. | Boy | |||
Bong (봉) | A mythical bird, probably phoenix | Boy | |||
Bong-Cha (봉차) | The ultimate girl | Girl | |||
Bora | Snow; Excellent; Brave | Boy | |||
Chin-Hae (친해) | Truth or depth of the ocean. | Boy | |||
Chin-Hwa (친화) | The most prosperous and wealthiest of all. | Boy | |||
Chin-Mae (친매) | Truth, a person who always speaks the truth. | Boy | |||
Chin-Sun (친선) | The one who seeks truth and goodness in everything, truth and goodness | Girl | |||
Choon-Hee (천희) | A girl born at the time of spring. | Girl | |||
Chul (쿨) | Firm; something that is neither soft nor very hard | Boy | |||
Chul-Moo (철무) | The weapon of iron | Boy | |||
Chun Hei (천 헤이) | Justice and grace | Girl | |||
Chung Ae (청애) | Noble and love | Boy | |||
Chung Cha (정차) | Noble and daughter | Girl | |||
Chung-Cha (충차) | A righteous and chaste girl. | Girl | |||
Chung-Hee (정희) | One who is righteous and dutiful. | Boy | |||
Chung-Ho (정호) | A righteous lake | Boy | |||
Da (다) | To attain | Unisex | |||
Dae (대) | The great one; shining | Unisex | |||
Dae-Ho (대호) | A great personality, great | Boy | |||
Dae-Hyun (대현) | Great and honor | Boy | |||
Dae-Jung (대정) | Great and righteous, honest. | Boy | |||
Daeshim (대심) | Greatest mind | Boy | |||
Do Hyun (도현) | Do means Path Hyun means virtuous, able | Boy | |||
Do Yoon ( 윤도) | Do means Path, Yoon means Allow or Consent | Boy | |||
Dong (동) | It means East | Boy | |||
Dong-Min (동민) | East and cleverness | Boy | |||
Dong-Sun (동선) | Goodness of the east. | Boy | |||
Dong-Yul (동율) | One having the passion of the east. | Boy | |||
Du (뒤) | Head | Girl | |||
Du-Ho (뒤호) | Head and goodness | Boy | |||
Duck-Hwan (오리 환) | Return of the virtue | Boy | |||
Duck-Young (오리 영) | The virtue is unchanging and everlasting | Boy | |||
Eui (의) | Righteousness | Girl | |||
Eun (은) | Silver | Girl | |||
Eun Ae (은애) | Grace with love | Girl | |||
Eun Jung (은정) | Grace and affection | Girl | |||
Eun-Kyung (은경) | A graceful gem. | Girl | |||
Gi (미군 병사) | One who is brave | Girl | |||
Goo (구) | Complete, someone who completes you | Girl | |||
Ha Eun (하은) | Ha means Summer, Great, or Talented, Eun means Kindness, Mercy, Charity, and can also mean Silver, Money | Girl | |||
Ha Joon (하준) | Ha means Summer, Talented, Joon means Handsome | Boy | |||
Ha Rin (하린) | Ha means Summer, Great, or Talented, Rin means Female unicorn | Girl | |||
Ha Yoon (하윤) | Ha means Summer, Great, or Talented, Yoon means Allow or Consent | Girl | |||
Hae (해) | O girl who is like an ocean | Girl | |||
Hae-Won (해원) | Graceful and beautiful garden. | Girl | |||
Hak-Kun (학쿤) | One with literate roots. | Boy | |||
Haneul (하늘) | Heavenly | Boy | |||
Hee-Young (희영) | Joy and prosperity, a girl who brings joy and prosperity wherever she goes. | Girl | |||
Hei Ryung (헤이 령) | Grace and brightness | Girl | |||
Hei-Ran (헤이 란) | Grace and orchid, a graceful orchid. | Girl | |||
Ho-Sook (호숙) | A clear lake. | Girl | |||
Hoe (괭이) | A Garden Tool Used to Loosen Soil, A korean dish of raw fish | Girl | |||
Hoon (훈) | Teaching | Boy | |||
Hwa-Young (화영) | A beautiful flower | Girl | |||
Hwan (환) | Bright | Boy | |||
Hye (혜) | A birght and intelligent man | Boy | |||
Hyo (효) | One with a filial duty | Girl | |||
Hyo-Sonn (효손) | One who is filial and gentle. | Girl | |||
Hyuk (혁) | Radiant | Boy | |||
Hyun (현) | "Bright" or "intelligent" in Korean; Variant transcription of HYEON meaning virtuous | Unisex | |||
Hyun Jae (현재) | Wise and respect | Girl | |||
Hyun Ki (현기) | Wise; Astute; Intelligent; Shrewd; Expert; Clever | Boy | |||
Hyun Shik (현식) | Korean - Clever; Smart; Brilliant | Boy | |||
Hyun-Ae (현애) | A woman who is loving and clear. | Girl | |||
Hyun-Ki (현기) | The foundation of wisdom. | Boy | |||
Hyun-Ok (현옥) | A wise and beautiful pearl. | Girl | |||
Hyun-Shik (현식) | The roots of wisdom. | Boy | |||
Il (일) | Superiority | Boy | |||
In (에서) | Humanity or wise | Boy | |||
In-Su (인수) | Preserving wisdom | Boy | |||
Iseul | Dew | Boy | |||
Jae Hwa (재화) | Respect and beauty, One who is rich and prosperous. | Girl | |||
Jee (지) | To know or the wisdom | Unisex | |||
Ji ( 지) | The name Ji is a Korean name and means Wisdom and Itelect. | Unisex | |||
Ji Ah (지아) | Ji means Wisdom, Intellect, Perceive, Comprehend, Will, Ambition, Ah means Beautiful, Bud, Sprout, Elegant, Graceful | Girl | |||
Ji Woo (지우) | Ji means Wisdom, Intellect , Perceive, Comprehend, Will, Ambition, Woo means Rain, House, or Universe | Girl | |||
Ji Yoo (유유) | Ji means Wisdom, Intellect, Perceive, Comprehend, Will, Ambition, Yoo means Abundant, Rich, Plentiful | Girl | |||
Jii | Jii means wisdom. Or a sign of intelligence. | Boy | |||
Jin Ae (진애) | Truth, treasure and love | Girl | |||
Jin Kyong (진경) | Truth, treasure and brightness | Girl | |||
Joo Won (주원) | Joo means Around or Circumference, Won means First or Origin | Boy | |||
Joon | A man who is exceptionally talented | Boy | |||
Joon Woo (준우) | Joon means Handsome Woo means Divine intervention, Protection or Rain | Boy | |||
Jum | Jum means King, Ruler | Boy | |||
Jung | A righteous man | Boy | |||
Jung-Hwa | One who is rich and righteous. | Boy | |||
Kang-Dae | One who is mighty and strong. | Boy | |||
Ki (기) | Ki means The One who has Arisen | Unisex | |||
Korain | One who is luminous and glorious | Boy | |||
Kwan | Kwan means One who is Strong | Boy | |||
Kwang | Wild | Boy | |||
Kwang-Sun | Wide goodness | Boy | |||
Kyong | Brightness | Boy | |||
Kyu | Standard | Boy | |||
Kyubok | One who is blessed by God. | Boy | |||