215 Wondrous Korean Names With Meanings

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

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
Jinju	Unisex	Pearl
Jisoo	Unisex	Wisdom and excellence
Jiwoo	Unisex	God's protection; Protected by God
Joo Won	Boy	Joo and Won combined; First or origin
Joon	Boy	A man who is exceptionally talented
Joon Woo	Boy	Combination of Joon and Woo; Divine intervention, protection or rain
Juah	Unisex	Love
Jum	Boy	King, Ruler
Jung	Boy	A righteous man
Jung-Hwa	Boy	One who is rich and righteous.

Juniel	Girl	youthful, talented, cheerful
Kaeson	Unisex	Strength; Resilience; Determination
Kang-Dae	Boy	One who is mighty and strong
Ki	Unisex	The one who has arisen
Korain	Boy	One who is luminous and glorious
Korea	Girl	Country in East Asia
Kwan	Boy	Strong
Kwang	Girl	Deer
Kwang-Sun	Boy	Wide goodness
Kyong	Boy	Brightness

Kyu	Boy	Standard
Kyubok	Boy	One who is blessed by God
Kyung	Boy	Respect
Kyung Mi	Girl	Honored and beauty
Kyung Soon	Girl	Honored and mild
Kyung-Hu	Girl	Girl in the capital
Loona	Unisex	Girl of the month
Mal-Chin	Boy	Persists to end
Man-Shik	Boy	Deeply rooted in something
Man-Young	Boy	Ten thousand years of prosperity

Mee	Girl	A beautiful woman
Mi Cha	Girl	Beautiful daughter
Mi Kyong	Girl	Beauty and brightness
Mi Sun	Girl	Beauty and goodness
Mi Young	Girl	Everlasting beauty
Mi-hi	Girl	Beautiful joy
Mi-Ok	Girl	Beautiful pearl
Min	Girl	A clever person; Sharp-minded; Quick-responding person
Min Jee	Girl	Brightness and wisdom
Min Joon	Boy	Quick; Clever; Sharp; Talented; Handsome

Min Jung	Girl	Bright and noble
Minho	Boy	Bright and shining
Minji	Unisex	Intelligent, talented, beautiful
Mirae	Unisex	Future
Mishil	Girl	A beautiful kingdom; An admired dynasty
Mun-Hee	Girl	An educated and literate girl
Myung	Boy	Bright and clear
Myung Hee	Girl	Brightness and pleasure
Myung-Dae	Boy	Great righteousness
Myung-Ok	Girl	A bright pearl

Myung-Suck	Boy	Foundation of ages
Rahee	Unisex	Traveler; Pathfinder
Ryung	Boy	Brightness
Sang Hee	Girl	Benevolence and pleasure
Sang-Ook	Boy	One who is always well and healthy
Seo Ah	Girl	Auspicious; Beautiful; Bud; Sprout; Elegant; Graceful
Seo Joon	Boy	Auspicious; Handsome
Seo Yeon	Girl	Auspicious; Beautiful; Graceful
Seo Yoon	Girl	Auspicious; Allow; Consent
Seok	Boy	Like a rock

Seoul	Unisex	Capital city of South Korea
Seung	Boy	Successor; Winning
Shik	Boy	Planting
Si Woo	Boy	Begin; Start; Divine intervention; Protection; Rain
So	Boy	Smile
So Young	Girl	Eternal; Beautiful; Prosperity
Somi	Unisex	Beautiful; Graceful
Soo	Girl	A charitable, kind, and noble person
Soo Ah	Girl	Soo means water, sore, bank, and Ah means beautiful, bud, sprout, elegant, graceful
Soo Jin	Girl	Treasure, excellence, and truth

Soo Min	Girl	Excellence and cleverness
Soo Yun	Girl	A perfect lotus flower
Soojin	Unisex	Graceful; Intelligent; Diligent
Sook	Girl	She who is of pure nature
Soon-Bok	Girl	Gentle and blessed; One with a gentle soul
Sosan	Unisex	Lily flower
Suck	Boy	Hardness
Suck-Chin	Boy	An unshakeable rock
Suk	Boy	A variation of Seok; Like a rock
Sun Hee	Girl	Pleasure and goodness

Sun Jung	Girl	Goodness and noble
Sun-Hi	Girl	One with a good and joyful demeanor
Sung	Girl	Successor or one on the verge of winning
Tae	Boy	Great; Honor; Brave
Taemin	Boy	Bright or shining spirit
Taeo	Unisex	Innovative; Ambitious
Whan	Girl	Enlargement
Won-Shik	Boy	Head; The root; The head of the family
Woong	Girl	Grand; Magnificent
Ye Joon	Boy	Art, talent, or craft; Handsome

Yeji	Unisex	To shine brilliantly; To be full of talent
Yena	Unisex	One who is talented and artistic
Yeri	Unisex	Joyful; Cheerful; Lively
Yerin	Girl	Graceful or cherished beauty
Yon	Girl	Lotus blossom
Yong	Unisex	Perpetual, eternal
Yong-sun	Boy	The dragon in the first position
Yoo Joon	Boy	Tenderness; Evening; Friend; Qualified; Courage; Help; Handsome
Yoon	Girl	Allow; Consent
Yoona	Girl	Graceful; Talented; Radiant

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Korean baby names represent the rich history and cultural depth of Korea. Koreans believe in maintaining harmony and balance with nature and society at large. This sentiment is reflected in their first names, a meaningful blend of Hanja characters and Hangul alphabets. Parents select Korean names for their children as symbols of a timeless legacy. These names carry forward the values and aspirations of their ancestors and keep their traditions alive through modern times.

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.

korean baby names that parents will love (infographic)

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are rare Korean names?

Bom, meaning ‘spring,’ Bong, meaning ‘phoenix,’ and Eui, meaning ‘righteous’ or ‘purple,’ are examples of some rare Korean names.

2. What is a cute Korean name for a girl?

The Korean language provides a plethora of options for cute names for girls. Aera, meaning ‘love,’ Bada meaning ‘ocean,’ and Byeol meaning ‘star,’ are some examples.

3. What are some famous Korean names?

Bitna meaning ‘shining,’ and Chun, meaning ‘justice’ or ‘spring,’ are popular names for girls, while Bae meaning ‘inspiration’ and Gi, meaning ‘brave,’ are examples of popular Korean names for baby boys.

4. Is Moon a Korean girl's name?

Moon, or Mun, is a Korean last name and a gender-neutral short first name. It can also be found as a part of longer names. The meaning of the name depends on the specific characters used to write it.

5. Is Nari a Korean name?

Yes, Nari is a Korean name. It is a feminine name meaning 'lily' or 'beautiful lily.’

6. What Korean name means rose?

Jang-Mi, pronounced as JAHNG-MEE, is a feminine Korean name that means ‘rose.’

7. What Korean girl name means star?

Byeol is a Korean feminine name for a girl that means ‘star.’

8. What Korean name means flower?

Yeong-Ja, Hwa-Young, and Young-Soon are some examples of Korean names that mean ‘flower.’

References

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