200+ Korean Baby Names and Meanings

By Tassia O'Callaghan

Apr 18, 2023

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13 min read

Looking for the best Korean baby names for your little kimchi? We’ve got common Korean names, cute Korean names, and unique Korean names.
Korean baby names are more than something to answer to. Packed with meaning, steeped in tradition, and fashioned from the sweetest sounds, Korean baby names offer a whole universe to be explored. So let’s take a peek at some of the best Korean names to see what’s the best fit for your babe. In this article 📝

How do Korean names work?
What is a typical Korean name?
What is a good Korean name for a girl?
What are boy Korean names?
What is the cutest Korean name?
What are some cool Korean names
What are rare Korean names?
What are some unisex Korean names?

Korean baby girl name

They are all Korean names. Which one sounds smooth / pretty to you? Spelling too! 1. Sull (rhymes with dull) 2. Sulla (Suh-luh or Suh-la) 3. Sullah (Suh-luh or Suh-la) Also, feel free to let me know if there are negative connotations that these names may have! Thank you :)

How do Korean names work?

To answer that question, it’s important to understand a little bit about the fundamentals of the naming process that goes into Korean baby names. Korean baby names are generally three syllables: one syllable for the family name and two syllables for the given name:

The first syllable is typically the family name ‒ like surnames in the West.
The second syllable is often the generational name. If you’re not familiar with the concept, it works a little something like this: each generation of a Korean family has a dolimja (돌림자) or generational name. This name shows that a baby belongs to a particular generation in a particular family.
The third syllable will be a unique name picked specifically for the baby and is often chosen by the grandfather.

Korean baby names have all sorts of contemporary variations. Many multicultural families, for example, have created wonderful hybrid options that still pay homage to the traditional naming process.

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How to pronounce Korean names

Well, in Korea, names are written in Korean, but English-speaking countries anglicize the words by writing them in English, so we can pronounce them more easily. For this list, we’ll refer to the English spellings of Korean baby names. Most of the Korean names in this list are spelled pretty close to how they should be pronounced, but here are a few common letters and pronunciations that are worth knowing:

-ae ‒ should be pronounced “ay”, like in “aid”.
-eong ‒ should be pronounced close to “ong” like in “song”, but with your tongue a little further back in your mouth.
-eul or -eoul ‒ should be pronounced “ool”, close to “fool”. Think of how you pronounce Seoul.

So what are some Korean first names? Let’s take a look.

What is a typical Korean name?

So what are common Korean names? Well, for family names (ones that are passed down each generation, Kim, Park, Choi, Chung, and Lee take the prize for the most common. In fact, according to Holt International, 21.5% of the Korean population have the surname Kim! Let’s dive in!

Why do people feel the urge to nickname your baby after you’ve shared the name chosen for your baby?!

So after months and months of being asked what my baby’s name will be, my husband and I finally set on a name and shared with family and friends. Now, for some reason, some family members decided to automatically nickname my child. All have a different one. Last thing I’d want, is my baby to be raised and confused out of her mind as to why people call her different things. Are these hormones making me overreact? Idk! But quiet honestly, I don’t like a couple of the nicknames that have been chosen.... like Pipi. First off, in Spanish that’s like saying in a cute way “you need to pee?” And then Penny, I don’t like it as it simply means one cent! Whatever happened to calling the child by it’s name?! I wish it could be something that truly comes from their heart like “sweet pea” or something but not a remix of the name! #firsttimemom #notsurehowhandle #amiexaggerating