Korean names have become wildly popular around the world thanks to K-dramas, K-pop and a love for names with poetic meanings. This guide lists 120+ Korean boy names with meanings, including the most popular names given in South Korea recently, cute and strong names, pure Korean (native) names and unique picks.
In this guide:
- How Korean Names Work
- Popular Korean Boy Names
- Cute Korean Boy Names
- Strong Korean Boy Names
- Pure Korean Boy Names
- Unique Korean Boy Names
- Common Korean Surnames
- FAQ
How Korean Names Work
A traditional Korean name has a one-syllable family name followed by a two-syllable given name, for example Kim Min-jun. Most given names are built from two Sino-Korean syllables (hanja), and each syllable can be written with different Chinese characters, so the exact meaning depends on the characters the family chooses. The meanings below are the most common ones.
Some parents choose pure Korean names (goyueo ireum) that come from native Korean words, such as Ha-neul (sky) or Ba-da (sea). These have a fixed meaning and no hanja.
Popular Korean Boy Names With Meanings
These names have been among the most common choices for baby boys in South Korea in recent years.
| Name | Common Meaning |
|---|---|
| Seo-jun | Auspicious, talented |
| Do-yun | Path, way; allowed |
| Ha-jun | Summer; talented |
| Eun-woo | Grace, mercy; divine help |
| Si-woo | Beginning; universe |
| Ji-ho | Wisdom; great, vast |
| Ye-jun | Art; talented |
| Yu-jun | Abundant; handsome |
| Ju-won | Pillar; origin |
| Min-jun | Quick, clever; talented |
| Ji-hoon | Wisdom; merit |
| Geon-woo | Healthy; house |
| Hyun-woo | Wise, virtuous; universe |
| Woo-jin | Universe; treasure |
| Seung-woo | Victory; universe |
| Jun-seo | Talented; auspicious |
| Ji-an | Wisdom; peace |
| Seon-woo | First; help |
| Yeon-woo | Lotus; rain |
| I-jun | Benefit; talented |
Cute Korean Boy Names
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ha-ru | Day; sky |
| Bom | Spring (pure Korean) |
| Da-on | All good things will come (pure Korean) |
| Ro-un | Pleasant |
| Ian | Gentle; peace |
| Ho-bin | Brilliant |
| Joon | Talented, handsome |
| Ra-on | Joyful (pure Korean) |
| Yul | Law; chestnut |
| Ha-yul | Summer; rhythm |
| Chan | Praise; bright |
| Dong-hyun | East; wise |
Strong Korean Boy Names
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Kang | Strong, powerful |
| Tae-yang | Sun |
| Kyung-ho | Respect; heroic |
| Dae-hyun | Great; virtuous |
| Jae-won | Wealth; origin |
| Tae-hoon | Great; merit |
| Young-jae | Eternal; talented |
| Sung-min | Accomplished; clever |
| Myung-soo | Bright; long life |
| Jin-ho | Treasure; vast |
| Kwang-min | Light; quick |
| Hyuk | Radiant, shining |
Pure Korean Boy Names
Native Korean names are short, nature-inspired and increasingly fashionable.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ha-neul | Sky, heaven |
| Ba-da | Sea |
| Bit-na | Shining |
| Ga-on | Center of the world |
| Na-ru | Ferry; river crossing |
| Ma-ru | Ridge, summit |
| Ye-dam | Beautiful and deep |
| Han-gyeol | Steady, unchanging |
| Sae-byeok | Dawn |
| Ha-ram | Big, great |
| Bit | Light |
| Saem | Spring, fountain |
Unique Korean Boy Names
Less common choices with lovely meanings. For more uncommon ideas from around the world, see our list of unique boy names.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Seo-ho | Auspicious; vast |
| Ji-hwan | Wisdom; bright |
| Rae-on | Coming warmth |
| Yoon-jae | Allowance; talent |
| Si-on | Beginning; warm |
| Han-sol | One pine tree |
| Eun-ho | Grace; good |
| Ha-min | Summer; clever |
| Do-hyun | Path; wise |
| Ye-seong | Art; star |
| Ji-seong | Wisdom; star |
| Tae-oh | Great; enlightened |
Common Korean Surnames
Around half of all Koreans share one of just three surnames: Kim, Lee and Park.
| Surname | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Kim | Gold |
| Lee (Yi) | Plum tree |
| Park (Bak) | Gourd |
| Choi | Highest |
| Jung (Jeong) | Quiet, upright |
| Kang | Strong; river |
| Cho (Jo) | Morning |
| Yoon | Govern; allow |
| Jang | Leader; chapter |
| Lim (Im) | Forest |
Tips for Using a Korean Name Outside Korea
- Romanization varies. The same name may be spelled Joon or Jun, Hyun or Hyeon. Pick the spelling that is easiest to pronounce where you live.
- Hyphen or not? Min-jun, Minjun and Min Jun are all used. Many families abroad drop the hyphen.
- Check the hanja. If you are honoring Korean heritage, ask a family member to help choose characters with the meaning you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular Korean boy name?
In recent years, names such as Seo-jun, Do-yun, Ha-jun, Eun-woo and Si-woo have topped the lists of the most popular names for baby boys in South Korea.
What is a cute Korean name for a boy?
Ha-ru (day/sky), Ra-on (joyful), Da-on (all good things will come) and Bom (spring) are cute Korean boy names.
What Korean boy name means strong?
Kang means ‘strong’, and names containing ‘ho’ (heroic/vast) or ‘geon’ (healthy, strong), such as Geon-woo, also suggest strength.
What is a Korean name that means sun?
Tae-yang means ‘sun’ in Korean. Hae (sun) also appears in names like Hae-sung.
Do Korean names have fixed meanings?
Sino-Korean names depend on the Chinese characters (hanja) chosen, so one name can have several meanings. Pure Korean names like Ha-neul (sky) have a single, fixed meaning.
