Writing Adolescent Fiction/Character names/Korean

Usage Note

In Korea, last names come first. A Korean with a hyphenated name would be known by both parts of the name, not just the one before the hyphen. A girl would call her older brother Oppa and her older sister Unnie. A boy would call his older brother Hyung and his older sister Noona.

Girls’ names

A-ra (아라)
Areum (아름)
A-young (아영)
Ae-jin (애진)
Ae-jung (애정)
Ae-min (애민)
Ae-ri (애리)
Ae-sook (애숙)
Ae-young (애영)
A-in (아인)
Bo-ah (보아)
Bo-hyun (보현)
Bo-kyung (보경)
Bo-mi (보미)
Bo-ra (보라)
Bo-seon (보선)
Bo-won (보원)
Bo-young (보영)
Bom (봄)
Byung-soon (병순)
Chae-eun (채은)
Chae-ha (채하)
Chae-hyun (채현)
Chae-jung (채정)
Chae-kyung (채경)
Chae-min (채민)
Chae-rin (채린)
Chae-ryeong (채령)
Chae-sun (채선)
Chae-won (채원)
Chae-yeon (채연)
Chae-young (채영)
Chan-hee (찬희)
Chan-ju (찬주)
Chan-mi (찬미)
Chan-ri (찬리)
Chan-sook (찬숙)
Cho-hyeon (초현)
Cho-won (초원)
Cho-yeon (초연)
Da-ae (다애)
Da-bin (다빈)
Da-eun (다은)
Da-hae (다해)
Da-hee (다희)
Da-hye (다혜)
Da-hyun (다현)
Da-in (다인)
Da-jeong (다정)
Da-kyung (다경)
Da-mi (다미)
Da-min (다민)
Da-on (다온)
Da-seul (다슬)
Da-sol (다솔)
Da-som (다솜)
Da-won (다원)
Da-yeon (다연)
Da-yoon (다윤)
Da-young (다영)
Dan-bi (단비)
Do-ah (도아)
Do-hee (도희)
Do-yeon (도연)
Doo-ri (두리)
Eui-jeong (의정)
Eun-a (은아)
Eun-bi (은비)
Eun-bin (은빈)
Eun-chae (은채)
Eun-ha (은하)
Eun-hwa (은화)
Eun-i (은이)
Eun-jae (은재)
Eun-ji (은지)
Eun-jin (은진)
Eun-jo (은조)
Eun-joo (은주)
Eun-kyul (은결)
Eun-mi (은미)
Eun-seong (은성)
Eun-sook (은숙)
Eun-woo (은우)
Eun-young (은영)
Ga-bin (가빈)
Ga-eul (가을)
Ga-eun / Ka-eun (가은)
Ga-hee (가희)
Ga-in (가인)
Ga-on (가온)
Ga-yoon (가윤)
Ga-young (가영)
Go-eun (고은)
Go-won (고원)
Go-young (고영)
Gyu-ri (규리)
Ha-bin (하빈)
Ha-eun (하은)
Ha-jin (하진)
Ha-jung (하정)
Ha-na (하나)
Ha-ni (하니)
Ha-seul (하슬)
Ha-young (하영)
Ha-yi (하이)
Ha-yun (하윤)
Hae-in (해인)
Hae-rin (해린)
Hae-mi (해미)
Hae-rim (해림)
Hae-ryung (해령)
Hae-sol (해솔)
Hae-won (해원)
Hae-yoon (해윤)
Hae-young (해영)
Han-areum (한아름)
Han-byeol (한별)
He-rin (헤린)
Hee (희)
Hee-ji (희지)
Hee-jin (희진)
Hee-su (희수)
Hee-won (희원)
Ho-hyun (호현)
Hwa (화)
Hye (혜)
Hye-hyun (혜현)
Hye-in (혜인)
Hye-jin (혜진)
Hye-joo (혜주)
Hye-lin (혜린)
Hye-min (혜민)
Hye-ri (혜리)
Hye-rim (혜림)
Hye-seon (혜선)
Hye-won (혜원)
Hye-yeon (혜연)
Hye-young (혜영)
Hyeon-ju (현주)
Hyeong-eun (형은)
Hyo-eun (효은)
Hyo-jin (효진)
Hyo-ri (효리)
Hyo-soon (효순)
Hyo-yeon (효연)
Hyun (현)
Hyun-a (현아)
Hyun-ji (현지)
Hyun-joo (현주)
Hyun-jung (현정)
Hyung-sook (형숙)
Hyung-soon (형순)
I-seul (이슬)
In-a (인아)
In-hye (인혜)
In-sun (인선)
Jae-eun (재은)
Jae-won (재원)
Je-ni (제니)
Jeong-hee (종희)
Jeong-min (정민)
Jeong-yeon (정연)
Ji-an (지안)
Ji-eun (지은)
Ji-hee (지희)
Ji-heun (지흔)
Ji-heon (지헌)
Ji-ho (지호)
Ji-hoo (지후)
Ji-hye (지혜)
Ji-hyo (지효)
Ji-hyun (지현)
Ji-min (지민)
Ji-na (지나)
Ji-soo (지수)
Ji-sun (지선)
Ji-sung (지성)
Ji-woo (지우)
Ji-won (지원)
Ji-yeon (지연)
Ji-yoon (지윤)
Ji-young (지영)
Jin (진)
Jin-hee (진희)
Jin-kyung (진경)
Jin-seon (진선)
Jin-sol (진솔)
Jin-young (진영)
Jong-eun (종은)
Joo-hee (주희)
Joo-hyun (주현)
Joo-yeon / Ju-yeon (주연)
Joon-hee (준희)
Ju-eun (주은)
Ju-na (주나)
Ju-ri (주리)
Jung-hye (정혜)
Keon-hee (건희)
Ki-won (기원)
Ki-yeon (기연)
Kyung-hee (경희)
Kyung-won (경원)
Kyung-mi (경미)
Kyung-sun (경선)
Kyung-hye (경혜)
Kyung-ja (경자)
Kyung-ha (경하)
Kyung-min (경민)
Kyung-sil (경실)
Kyung-wook (경욱)
Kyung-hwa (경화)
Ma-ri (마리)
Mi-gyung (미경)
Mi-jin (미진)
Mi-joo (미주)
Mi-rae (미래)
Mi-mi (미미)
Mi-na (미나)
Min-ju (민주)
Mi-ra (미라)
Mi-ru (미루)
Min (민)
Min-a (민아)
Min-hee (민희)
Min-ji (민지)
Min-jung (민정)
Min-na (민나)
Min-seo (민서)
Min-soo (민수)
Min-young (민영)
Mi-sook (미숙)
Mi-soon (미순)
Mi-yeon (미연)
Mi-young (미영)
Moon-kyung (문경)
Moon-sun (문선)
Myeon-ji (면지)
Myung-hee (명희)
Myung-sun (명선)
Na-bi (나비)
Na-hyun (나현)
Na-joo (나주)
Na-kyung (나경)
Na-ra (나라)
Na-ri (나리)
Na-yeon (나연)
Na-yoon (나윤)
Na-young (나영)
Nam-jin (남진)
Nam-joo (남주)
Nam-ra (남라)
Ok-hee (옥희)
Ok-hwa (옥화)
Ok-sun (옥선)
Ok-joo (옥주)
On-jo (온조)
Rae-ji (래지)
Rae-yeon (래연)
Ri-na (리나)
Ri-yu (리유)
Ri-ye (리예)
Ryu-jin (류진)
Sa-ra (사라)
Sa-rang (사랑)
Sae-hyun (새현)
Sae-mi (새미)
Sae-rom (새롬)
Sang-hee (상희)
Sang-jin (상진)
Sang-mi (상미)
Se-bin (세빈)
Se-hee (세희)
Se-heun (세흔)
Se-hyun (세현)
Se-jeong (세정)
Se-rim (세림)
Se-rin (세린)
Se-young (세영)
Seul-gi (슬기)
Seung-geun (승은)
Seung-hee (승희)
Seung-hyeon (승현)
Seung-mi (승미)
Seung-wan (승완)
Seung-yeon (승연)
Seung-yoo (승유)
Seo-hyeung (서형)
Seo-kyeong (서경)
Seo-hyun (서현)
Seo-won (서원)
Seo-yeon (서연) (This name is a common name choice for women when they change their names.)
Seo-yeong (서영)
Seol-a (설아)
Seol-hyun (설현)
Seon (선)
Seon-hee (선희)
Seon-hwa (선화)
Seon-koo (선구)
Seon-mi (선미)
Seong-hee (성희)
Seong-eun (성은)
Shin (신)
Shin-young (신영)
Si-an (시안)
Si-ah (시아)
Si-hyun (시현)
Si-ra (시라)
Si-won (시원)
Si-yeon (시연)
Si-yoon (시윤)
Sin-ae (신애)
So-eun (소은)
So-hee (소희)
So-hye (소혜)
So-hyeon (소현)
So-mi (소미)
So-myeong (소명)
So-ri (소리)
So-won (소원)
So-yeon (소연)
So-young (소영)
Sol-ee (솔이)
Soo-ae (수애)
Soo-hyun (수현)
Soo-ji (수지)
Soo-jin (수진)
Soo-jung (수정)
Soo-kyung (수경)
Soo-mi (수미)
Soo-yeon (수연)
Soo-young (수영)
Soon-bok (순복)
Soon-kyu (순규)
Soon-yi (순이)
Sun (선)
Su-a (수아)
Su-an (수안)
Su-gyeong (수경)
Su-min (수민)
Su-yun (수윤)
Sun-woo (선우)
Tae-mi (태미)
Tae-seon (태선)
Tae-yeon (태연)
Tae-kyung (태경)
Tae-eun (태은)
Won (원)
Won-young (원영)
Won-ju (원주)
Won-hee (원희)
Woon (운)
Woo-yeon (우연)
Woo-lim (우림)
Ye-eun (예은)
Ye-im (예임)
Ye-ji (예지)
Ye-rim (예림)
Ye-rin (예린)
Ye-seo (예서)
Ye-na (예나)
Ye-ju/Ye-joo (예주)
Ye-won (예원)
Ye-woon (예운)
Ye-young (예영)
Yeon-a (연아)
Yeon-gyung (연경)
Yeon-ji (연지)
Yeon-joo (연주)
Yeong-ju (영주)
Yi-soo (이수)
Yong-sook (용숙)
Yoo-bin (유빈)
Yoo-hyeon (유현)
Yoo-jeong (유정)
Yoo-jin (유진)
Yoo-mi (유미)
Yoo-na/Yu-na (유나)
Yoo-min (유민)
Yoo-ni (유니)
Yoo-ra (유라)
Yoo-ri (유리)
Yoon (윤)
Yoon-a (윤아)
Yoon-ja (윤자)
Yoon-ji (윤지)
Yoon-jin (윤진)
Yoon-kyung (윤경)
Yoon-mi (윤미)
Young-chae (영채)
Young-eun (영은)
Young-hee (영희)
Young-ja (영자)
Young-ju (영주)
Young-mi (영미)
Young-yoo (영유)

Boys' names

Brothers are often given names in which one part is the same for all and one part is different for all. For example, two brothers may be named Song-Won and Song-ho, or Kum-Shik and Won-Shik.

An (안)
Bin (빈)
Baul (바울)
Beom-gyu (범규)
Beom-seok (범석)
Beom-soo (범수)
Byeong-cheol (병철)
Byeong-kwan (병관)
Byung-chan (병찬)
Byung-ho (병호)
Byung-hoon (병훈)
Byung-joon (병준)
Byung-woo (병우)
Byung-wook (병욱)
Chae-koo (채구)
Chan (찬)
Chan-woo (찬우)
Chan-yeol (찬열)
Chan-young (찬영)
Chan-yul (찬율)
Chang-bin (창빈)
Chang-ha (창하)
Chang-ho (창호)
Chang-min (창민)
Chang-nam (창남)
Chang-seon (창선)
Chang-soo (창수)
Chang-woo (창우)
Chang-wook (창욱)
Cheol (철)
Cheol-min (철민)
Cheol-soo (철수)
Chi-won (치원)
Chul (철)
Chul-soo (철수)
Chul-soon (철순)
Chul-woo (철우)
Dae-hyun (대현)
Dae-hwi (대휘)
Dae-in (대인)
Dae-il (대일)
Dae-hyeon (대현)
Dae-jung (대정)
Dae-seok (대석)
Dae-seong (대성)
Dae-sung (대성)
Dae-won (대원)
Dan (단)
Do-hun (도훈)
Do-hyun (도현)
Do-kyun (도균)
Do-won (도원)
Do-yeon (도연)
Dong-bin (동빈)
Dong-chan (동찬)
Dong-chul (동철)
Dong-yeon (동연)
Dong-eun (동은)
Dong-ha (동하)
Dong-han (동한)
Dong-ho (동호)
Dong-hyuk (동혁)
Dong-hyun (동현)
Dong-il (동일)
Dong-ju (동주)
Dong-jun (동준)
Dong-kyu (동규)
Dong-min (동민)
Dong-moon (동문)
Dong-myeong (동명)
Dong-pyo (동표)
Dong-soo (동수)
Dong-won (동원)
Dong-wook (동욱)
Dong-woo (동우)
Dong-yoon (동윤)
Doo-hwan (두환)
Eu-gene (유진)
Eui-jin (의진)
Eui-woong (의웅)
Eun-ki (은기)
Eun-kwang (은광)
Eun-sang (은상)
Geon-min (건민)
Geon-woo (건우)
Ha-bit (하빛)
Ha-don (하돈)
Ha-joon (하준)
Ha-min (하민)
Ha-woong (하웅)
Hae-il (해일)
Hae-in(해인)
Hae-seob (해섭)
Hae-seong (해성)
Han (한)
Haon (하온)
Han-bin (한빈)
Han-guk (한국)
Han-kil (한길)
Han-kyeol (한결)
Han-kyeom (한겸)
Han-jae (한재)
Han-seo (한서)
Han-sol (한솔)
Han-wool (한울)
Him-chan (힘찬)
Ho-jin (호진)
Ho-jun (호준)
Ho-soo (호수)
Ho-sung (호성)
Ho-won (호원)
Ho-yeon (호연)
Ho-young (호영)
Hong-cheol (홍철)
Hong-gi (홍기)
Hong-il (홍일)
Hong-joong (홍중)
Hoon (훈)
Hwan (환)
Hwan-seok (환석)
Hwan-woong (환웅)
Hyuk (혁)
Hyuk-jae (혁재)
Hyun (현)
Hyun-bin (현빈)
Hyun-gyu (현규)
Hyun-ho (현호)
Hyun-jae (현재)
Hyun-jin (현진)
Hyun-jo (현조)
Hyun-jong (현종)
Hyun-jun (현준)
Hyun-jung (현정)
Hyun-ki (현기)
Hyun-min (현민)
Hyun-soo (현수)
Hyun-seok (현석)
Hyun-seung (현승)
Hyun-sik (현식)
Hyun-tae (현태)
Hyun-woo (현우)
Hyung (형)
Hyung-bin (형빈)
Hyung-joon (형준)
Hyung-min (형민)
Hyung-seop (형섭)
Hyung-sik (형식)
Hyung-woo (형우)
Il-sung (일성)
In-cheol (인철)
In-jung (인정)
In-sik (인식)
In-seong (인성)
In-soo (인수)
In-tak (인탁)
Jae-bin (재빈)
Jae-beom (재범)
Jae-chan (재찬)
Jae-eok (재억)
Jae-han (재한)
Jae-hee (재희)
Jae-hun (재훈)
Jae-hwa (재화)
Jae-hwan (재환)
Jae-hyun (재현)
Jae-jun (재준)
Jae-kyung (재경)
Jae-min (재민)
Jae-oh (재오)
Jae-seon (재선)
Jae-won (재원)
Jae-woo (재우)
Jae-yoon (재윤)
Jae-young (재영)
Je-no (제노)
Je-won (제원)
Je-yong (제용)
Ji-young (지영)
Ji-ho (지호)
Ji-hoon (지훈)
Ji-kwang (지광)
Ji-min (지민)
Ji-sung (지숭)
Jin (진)
Jin-ho (진호)
Jin-sol (진솔)
Jin-soo (진수)
Jin-seong (진성)
Jin-woo (진우)
Jin-yong (진용)
Jin-young (진영)
Ji-seong (지성)
Ji-tae (지태)
Ji-woong (지웅)
Ji-young (지영)
Jong-dae (종대)
Jong-in (종인)
Jong-gyu(종규)
Jong-hyun (종현)
Joon (준)
Joon-ho (준호)
Joon-il (준일)
Joon-o (준오)
Joon-soo (준수)
Joon-yeob (준엽)
Joo-seob (주섭)
Jung-il (정일)
Jung-ho (정호)
Jung-hoon (정훈)
Jung-hwa (정화)
Jung-hwan (정환)
Jung-keun (정근)
Jung-kook (정국)
Jung-kyu (정규)
Jung-mo (정모)
Jung-san (정산)
Jung-sik (정식)
Kil (길)
Ki-hyuk (기혁)
Ki-sang (기상)
Ki-soo (기수)
Ki-woo (기우)
Keon-woo (건우)
Kwang-joon (광준)
Kwang-soo (광수)
Kyung-joo (경주)
Kyu-hwang (규황)
Kyu-hyuk (규혁)
Min (민)
Min-ho (민호)
Min-joon (민준)
Min-ki (민기)
Min-kyu (민규)
Min-seok (민석)
Min-soo (민수)
Myung-bok (명복)
Myung-dae (명대)
Myung-soo (명수)
Nam-joon (남준)
Lee-ne-shav (리네샤)
San (산)
Se-cheol (세철)
Se-hoon (세훈)
Se-joo (세주)
Se-Hun(세훈)
Se-jin (세진)
Se-jun (세준)
Seok-jin (석진)
Seo-jun (서준)
Seon (선)
Seong (성)
Seong-cheol (성철)
Seong-han (성한)
Seong-ho (성호)
Seong-hyun (성현)
Seong-jin (성진)
Seong-jong (성종)
Seong-kyu (성규)
Seong-min (성민)
Seong-won (성원)
Seong-woo (성우)
Seong-yeol (성열)
Seon-gyu(성규)
Seon-yeol (선열)
Seon-young (선영)
Seung (승)
Seung-hwa (승화)
Si-hyun (시현)
Si-won (시원)
Si-woo (시우)
Soo-an (수안)
Soo-hwan (수환)
Soo-hyun (수현)
Soo-bin (수빈)
Sun-woo/Sun-oo (선우)
Tae-ho (태호)
Tae-hyun (태현)
Tae-hyung (태형)
Tae-wan (태완)
Tae-woo (태우)
Tae-yeon (태연)
Won (원)
Won-myung (원명)
Won-sik (원식)
Woo-hyun (우현)
Woo-il (우일)
Woo-jin (우진)
Woo-Young(우영)
Yeon-jun (연준)
Yi-hwan (이환)
Yi-soo (이수)
Yong (용)
Yong-jin (용진)
Yong-joon (용준)
Yong-seon (용선)
Yoo (유)
Yoo-jin (유진)
Yoon (윤)
Yoon-bok (윤복)
Yoon-ho (윤호)
Yoon-soo (윤수)
Yoon-gi (윤기)
Yo-han (요한)
Yo-seob (요섭)
Young-bin (영빈)
Young-il (영일)
Young-beom (영범)
Young-cheol (영철)
Young-ho (영호)
Young-hoon (영훈)
Young-jae (영재)
Young-joon (영준)
Young-min (영민)
Young-sam (영삼)
Young-wook (영욱)
Young-soo (영수)

Surnames

In instances where two surnames are identical except that one begins with N and the other with R, the R version is North Korean only, but the N version can be either North or South Korean. There are also different spellings for different surnames. No can be Noh, Park can be Bak, Lee can be Yi. This is in both North and South Korea. Also keep in mind surnames can start with one letter but that can be changed. Bang can be Pang or Kim can be Gim, Cheong can be Jung. Lim is a North Korean and South Korean Surname.

Top 5

Kim (김)
Lee (이)
Park (박)
Jung (정)
Choi (최)

Others

A/Ah (아)
Ae (애)
An/Ahn (안)
Bae (배)
Baek/Paek (백)
Ban (반)
Bang (방)
Beom (범)
Beon (번)
Bi/Bee (비)
Bin/Been (빈)
Bing (빙)
Bo (보)
Bok (복)
Bong (봉)
Boo/Bu (부)
Byun/Byeon (변)
Cha (차)
Chae/Chai (채)
Chang (창)
Cheon (천)
Cho (초)
Choi/Chwe (최)
Chu/Choo (추)
Da (다)
Dae (대)
Dam (담)
Dan (단)
Dang (당)
Deung (등)
Deungjeong/Deungjung (등정)
Do/Doh (도)
Dokko (독고)
Don (돈)
Dong (동)
Dongbang (동방)
Doo/Du (두)
Eo (어)
Eogeum (어금)
Eom/Uhm/Um (엄)
Eum (음)
Eun (은)
Ga/Ka (가)
Ha (하)
Hae (해)
Hak (학)
Ham/Hahm (함)
Han (한)
Heo/Huh/Hur/Huhr (허)
Ho (호)
Hong (홍)
Hoo (후)
Hwa (화)
Hwang (황)
Hwangbo (황보)
Hwangmok (황목)
Hyun/Hyeon (현)
Hyung/Hyeong (형)
Im (S.Korea)/Lim (N.Korea) (임/림)
In/Ihn (인)
Ja (자)
Jang/Chang (장)
Je (제)
Jekal (제갈)
Jeom (점)
Jeon (전)
Jeung (증)
Ji/Jee (지)
Jin/Jihn (진)
Jo (조)
Jong (종)
Joo/Ju (주)
Jung/Jeong (정)
Jwa (좌)
Kal (갈)
Kam (감)
Kan (간)
Kang/Gang (강)
Keum (금)
Keun (근)
Ki/Gi (기)
Kil (길)
Kim/Gim/Ghim (김)
Go/Ko (고)
Kok (곡)
Kong/Gong (공)
Koo/Goo (구)
Kook/Kuk/Gook/Guk (국)
Koong (궁)
Kwak/Gwak (곽)
Kwan/Gwan (관)
Kwok (궉)
Kwon (권)
Kye/Gye (계)
Kyun (견)
Kyung (경)
Kyo/Gyo (교)
Lee (S.Korea)/Ri (N.Korea) (이/리)
Ma (마)
Mae (매)
Maeng (맹)
Man (만)
Mangjeol (망절)
Mi (미)
Min (민)
Mo (모)
Mok (목)
Moo/Mu (무)
Moobon (무본)
Mook (묵)
Moon (문)
Myung (명)
Myo (묘)
Na (S.Korea) / La (N. Korea) (나/라)
Nae (내)
Nam (남)
Namkoong (남궁)
Nan (S.Korea)/Ran (N.Korea) (난/란)
Nang (S.Korea)/Rang (N.Korea) (낭/랑)
No (S.Korea)/Ro (N.Korea) (노/로)
Noe (S.Korea)/Roe (N.Korea) (뇌/뢰)
Oh/O (오)
Ok/Ock (옥)
On (온)
Ong (옹)
Paeng (팽)
Pan (판)
Park/Bak (박)
Pil (필)
Po (포)
Poong (풍)
Pyeon/Pyun (편)
Pyeong (평)
Pyo/Pyoh (표)
Ra (라)
Ran (란)
Rang (랑)
Ri (리)
Rim (림)
Ro (로)
Roe (뢰)
Ryeo (려)
Ryu (류)
Sa/Sah (사)
Sakong (사공)
Sam (삼)
San (산)
Sang (상
Seo/Suh (서)
Seob (섭)
Seok/Suk(석)
Seol/Sol/Sul (설)
Seomoon (서문)
Seon/Sun (선)
Seong/Sung (성)
Seonwoo (선우)
Seung (승)
Si (시)
Sim (심)
Sin (신)
So/Soh (소)
Son/Shon/Sohn (손)
Song (송)
Soo (수)
Soon (순)
Tae (태)
Tak (탁)
Tan (탄)
Wan (완)
Wang (왕)
Wi/Wee (위)
Won (원)
Woo (우)
Woon (운)
Ya (야)
Yang (S. Korea)/Ryang (N. Korea) (양/량)
Ye (예)
Yeo (S. Korea)/Ryeo (N. Korea) (여/려)
Yeom (S. Korea)/Ryeom (N. Korea) (염/렴)
Yeon (S. Korea)/Ryeon (N. Korea) (연/련)
Young (영)
Yeob (엽)
Yo (요)
Yong (S. Korea)/Ryong (N. Korea) (용/룡)
Yoo (S. Korea)/Ryoo (N. Korea) (유/류)
Yook (S.Korea)/Ryook (N.Korea) (육/륙)
Yoom/Yum/Youm (윰)
Yoon/Yun/Youn (윤)