The famous Chinese philosopher Confucius stated, “A good name will lead to a good life (정명순행-正名順行).” Many Asian countries put an emphasis on names–Korea included. Names are important to Koreans. And for those of you interested in finding out more about Korean names, writing your name in the Korean alphabet, or even putting together your very own Korean name, well, don’t go anywhere, as this post is your one-stop guide regarding Korean names!
We’ll be honest with you—one of the questions we get asked the most on KoreanClass101 is on — yes, you guessed it — names. The most frequently asked questions include:
“How do you write an English name in Korean?”
“Is it possible to make a name up and ask native Koreans to use it?”
“Are there any Korean names that sound like English names?”
A. Each Syllable Should Have One Consonant and One Vowel at Least.
One common mistake that we see people making while trying to figure out how to write their name in Korean is that they try to write their names according to the way it is spelled. But actually, you need to write it according to how your name is pronounced. Find Korean pronunciation that sounds similar to your actual name.
Let’s take the name Jane for example. If you try to romanize it in Korean as it is spelled (which would be ‘ja-ne’), it would be sound like ‘자-네’, which really doesn’t sound anything like ‘Jane’.
Here, you may fall into your first dilemma. Korean words must consist of a consonant and vowel sound. However, some names contains only a consonant sound. In this case, just add the Korean vowel ‘ㅡ
(eu)‘. For example, Chris sounds like ‘kris’ so it would become ‘크리스 (keu-ri-seu)’ by adding ‘eu’ to ‘k’ and ‘s’.
Chris sounds like Kris. It’s K + ri + s. Add ㅡ (eu) to a consonant that doesn’t have a vowel sound.
It becomes Keu + ri + seu, which is 크리스 in Korean.
This rule also applies to names that contains a syllable that starts with ‘t’. For example, if you want to write the name Trina in Korean, just add ‘eu’ to the ‘t’ sound and you will get ‘트리나 (teu-ri-na)’.
Trina is T + ri + na. Add ㅡ (eu) to a consonant that doesn’t have a vowel sound.
It becomes Teu + ri + na, which is 트리나 in Korean.
B. An ‘R’ at the End of the Syllable is Silent.
Now, you may have noticed that the ‘r’ sound at the end of ‘Trevor (트레버)’ does not show up in the Korean equivalent. This is because you do not need to add the consonant ‘ㄹ’ at the end of the syllable if it ends with ‘r’. Some say that this is because there are not so many hangul names with the batchim ‘ㄹ’ at the end. Others say that this is due to the rules set by the National Institute of Korean Language, which designates that borrowed words (외래어) and names be written in a certain way to avoid confusion.
No matter what the reason, remember not to add the batchim ‘ㄹ’ if the syllable ends with ‘r’. Here are some examples of names that should apply this rule:
The name Peter will be romanized as pi-teo and written in Korean as ‘피터 (pi-teo)’, not ‘피털’.
Alexander will be romanized as a-lek-san-deo and written as ‘알렉산더 (alreksandeo)’, not ‘알렉산덜’
C. An ‘H’ at the End of the Syllable is Silent.
If your name ends with an ‘h’, it will become silent.
Example: Hannah will be written as ‘한나 (hanna)’, not ‘한낳’.
D. A ‘SH’ at the End of the Syllable Can be Either ‘시’ or ‘쉬’.
Other tricky names to write in Korean would be those that end with ‘sh’. In this case, you could use either ‘시 (si)’ or ‘쉬
(swi)’. For example:
Josh could be written as ‘조시 (josi)’ or ‘조쉬 (joswi)’
E. A ‘P’ or an ‘PH’ at the End of the Syllable Can be Either ‘ㅂ’ or ‘프’.
If your name ends with a ‘p’ or ‘ph’, you can use either the batchim ‘ㅂ’ or ‘프’, depending on your preference.
For example, the name Joseph is more commonly written as ‘조셉 (josep)’ in Korean, but you will also see people writing it as ‘조세프 (josepeu)’.
Another example would be Phillip, ‘필립 (pillip)’, which is even used as a native Korean name. But you could write it as ‘필리프 (pillipeu)’. (Again, ‘필립’ is used more commonly.)
F. A ‘T’ at the End of the Syllable Can be Either ‘ㅅ’ or ‘트’.
Names that have a syllable that ends with ‘t’ can be written as either ‘ㅅ’ or ‘트’. For example:
Scott could be written as ‘스콧 (seukot)’ or ‘스코트 (seukoteu)’
Matt could be written as ‘맷 (maet)’ or ‘매트 (maeteu)’
G. ‘F’ is Pronounced as ‘P (ㅍ)’.
There is no ‘f’ sound in Korean, so names that start with ‘f’ will be written using the consonant ‘ㅍ’ , along with names that start with ‘p’. For example:
Felicity will be written in Korean as ‘펠리시티 (pellisiti)’
Pamela will be written in Korean as ‘파멜라 (pamella)’
H. ‘V’ is Pronounced as ‘B (ㅂ)’.
There is no ‘v’ sound in Korean, so syllables that start with ‘v’ will be written using the consonant ‘ㅂ’ , along with names that have ‘b’. For example:
Vanessa will be written in Korean as ‘바네사 (banesa)’.
Becky will be written in Korean as ‘베키 (beki)’.
Steve will be written in Korean as ‘스티브 (seutibeu)’.
I. ‘Z’ is Pronounced as ‘J (ㅈ)’.
Names that start with ‘j’ or ‘z’ will be written using the consonant ‘ㅈ’. For example:
Joe will be written in Korean as ‘조 (jo)’.
Jack and Zack will both be written in Korean as ‘잭 (jaek)’.
J. ‘One L + Vowel’ in the middle of the name Becomes ‘ㄹ + ㄹ + Vowel’.
One ‘l’ that comes before a vowel in the middle of the name often becomes ㄹ + ㄹ + vowel. For example:
Julia will be written in Korean as ‘줄리아 (jullia)’.
Nicolas will be written in Korean as ‘니콜라스 (nikollaseu)’.
But if ‘l’ comes at the beginning of the name, it doesn’t change to ㄹ + ㄹ. ‘Lena’ is just ‘레나 (rena)’. If there are two Ls in the middle of the name, write it as it is. You don’t need to add more ㄹ sounds. For that reason, both Gabriella and Gabriela are 가브리엘라.
K. A ‘K’ at the End of the Syllable Can be Either ‘ㄱ’ or ‘크’.
If the pronunciation of the name syllable ends with ‘k’, it’s ‘ㄱ’ or ‘크’ but ‘ㄱ’is more common. For example:
Patrick will be written in Korean as ‘패트릭 (paeteurik)’.
We’ve gone through the basics of writing your name in Korean. However, if you’re feeling slightly lazy, don’t worry! There are some Korean names that sound exactly like names in English that you could use as your own, without worrying about how to write the consonants and vowels.
Here are some names that you can choose from–can you find your name on the list?
Now if you really want a Korean sounding name, one fun way to do so would be to use popular Korean names. It will definitely be a great ice breaker if you do have a ‘Korean’ name.
A. Make One Using Your Birthday.
Try using your birthday to come up with a Korean name—here is a fun chart that you could use to come up with a name for yourself (and you can tell everyone that you came up with your name based on your date of birth and year!)
For example, if you’re female and your birthday is September 1st, 1996, your full name would be 최진희 (Choe Jin-Hui).
최진희
Surname: 최 (Choe)
Given Name: 진희 (Jin-Hui)
If you’re male with the same birthday above, September 1st, 1996, it’d be 최진훈 (Choe Jin-Hun).
최진훈
Surname: 최 (Choe)
Given Name: 진훈 (Jin-Hun)
B. Pick One from the List of the Most Popular Names.
If you’d like to use a popular Korean name as your own, you can find the list of the most popular names for 2017 below.
Girl
Boy
1.
하윤 (Ha-Yun)
도윤 (Do-Yun)
2.
지우 (Ji-Wu)
예준 (Ye-Jun)
3.
하린 (Ha-Rin)
주원 (Ju-Won)
4.
수아 (Su-A)
유준 (Yu-Jun)
5.
지아 (Ji-A)
지호 (Ji-Ho)
6.
서아 (Seo-A)
준우 (Jun-U)
7.
서윤 (Seo-Yun)
하준 (Ha-Jun)
8.
서연 (Seo-Yeon)
서준 (Seo-Jun)
9.
하은 (Ha-Eun)
시우 (Si-U)
10.
지유 (Ji-Yu)
민준 (Min-Jun)
You can put these names together with a surname that you think will work for you. You can find some of the most common surnames in Korea.
There is a famous Korean saying in Korea regarding names:
호랑이는 죽어서 가죽을 남기고 사람은 죽어서 이름이 남긴다.
“A tiger will die and leave its skin, and a person will die and leave his name”.
This is one saying that epitomizes the importance of names to Koreans.
Although some parents will forego the meaningful Chinese characters and opt for a pure Hangul name, you will still commonly see many parents with newborns asking advice from elders or even going to ‘naming gurus’ to get the name that will bring ‘prosperity’ or ‘luck’ to their children. Some parents even take the time to give their children fetal names ‘태명’ before they are born!
Having said that, how is a Korean name written?
Unlike in English, where the ‘given’ name comes first and the ‘surname’ at the end, you will write your ‘surname/family name/last name (성)’, usually one character (there are some surnames with two characters), first, then your ‘given name/first name (이름), which is usually two characters). For example:
권지용
Surname: 권 (Gwon)
Given Name: 지용 (Ji-Yong)
As you can see, it is actually not difficult to write your name in Korean. The fastest method would be to check how your name is written officially in Korean. You could also look for a Korean name that sounds similar to yours, or even make up a ‘Korean’ name.
Or you could ask us! We would be more than happy to give you a hand. Please try writing your name out in Hangul (and let us know how you write and pronounce it in English) in the submission form on the top, and we’ll get back to you.
In this video series, you will learn the Korean alphabet, known as Hangul. We will teach you Hangul using simple steps, showing you the correct stroke order, helpful tricks for memorization, and proper usage in common Korean words. If you want to get started reading and writing Korean, this is THE place to start.
Want to learn Korean? Don’t know where to start? This is it. The Introduction to Korean Video series is perfect for those who know zero Korean but want to take that first step. In this series, you’ll learn all about the Korean language, as well as grammar, writing and phrases to get you started.
Ready to sound like a native Korean speaker? Join Alisha and Ara in the Ultimate Korean Pronunciation Series! You’ll learn the ins and outs of perfect Korean pronunciation. You’ll learn the common mistakes learners make, how to avoid them, and the nuances that only native speakers are aware of.
Learn the basics you need to be polite while speaking Korean. Amy will take you step-by-step through must-know phrases and explain the grammar and composition. Plus, you’ll get some special tips on how to be extra authentic when interacting with native Korean speakers.
What's your name? Leave a comment. We'll write your name in the Korean alphabet 😄
Krishna Dwaipayan Mitra
Tuesday at 04:15 AM
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Hello! My name is Krishna Dwaipayan Mitra. How will I write it in Korean?
KoreanClass101.com
Thursday at 11:30 PM
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Hi Theo!
Your full name, "Theophane Mmesomachukwu Ezeani," transliterates to 테오파네 음메소마추쿠 에제아니 (Te-o-pa-ne Eum-me-so-ma-chu-ku E-je-a-ni) in Korean.
For simplicity, you can use 테오 (Te-o) as a shortened version. Strong and unique!
Hi Veronica!
Your name in Korean is 베로니카 (Be-ro-ni-ka).
It's timeless and resonates beautifully in Hangul!
Hi Katherine!
Your name in Korean is 캐서린 (Kae-seo-rin).
Elegant and perfectly transliterated!
Hi Catherine!
Your name in Korean is 캐서린 (Kae-seo-rin).
Graceful and retains its classic charm!
Hi Javier!
For "Manuel Javier Galvez Castro," the transliteration is 마누엘 하비에르 갈베스 카스트로 (Ma-nu-el Ha-bi-e-reu Gal-be-seu Ka-seu-teu-ro).
Your name is beautiful! 😊
감사합니다 (Gamsahamnida, "Thank you")
Team KoreanClass101.com
KoreanClass101.com
Thursday at 11:26 PM
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Hi Sammy!
Your name "Siomarys Rivera Vazquez" can be transliterated in Korean as 시오마리스 리베라 바스케즈 (Si-o-ma-ri-seu Ri-be-ra Ba-seu-ke-jeu).
For a Korean name with a similar meaning, you could use:
수호미 (Su-ho-mi): 수호 means "guardian/protector," and 미 means "beauty."
Elegant and meaningful in Hangul!
Hi Kevin!
Your name in Korean is 케빈 (Ke-bin).
As a woman with a traditionally masculine name, this is unique! In Korean culture, unisex names such as "민재 (Min-jae)" or "지훈 (Ji-hoon)" are also common and beloved.
Hi Ashley!
Your name in Korean is 애슐리 (Ae-shul-li).
Stylish and universally recognized in Hangul!
감사합니다 (Gamsahamnida, "Thank you")
Team KoreanClass101.com
KoreanClass101.com
Thursday at 11:24 PM
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Hi Arsh!
Your name in Korean is 아르쉬 (Ah-reu-shwi).
Bold and unique in Hangul!
Hi Kate!
Your name in Korean is 케이트 (Ke-i-teu).
Classic and sophisticated in Korean script!
Hi Yatish!
Your name in Korean is 야티쉬 (Ya-ti-shwi).
Smooth and dynamic in Hangul!
Hi Xueling!
Your name in Korean is 쉬링 (Swi-ling), transliterating from your Chinese name.
It flows beautifully in Korean!
Hi Joana!
Your name in Korean is 조아나 (Jo-a-na).
Lovely and elegant in Hangul!
Hi Markelle!
Your name in Korean is 마켈 (Ma-kel).
Distinct and memorable in Korean script!
감사합니다 (Gamsahamnida, "Thank you")
Team KoreanClass101.com
Theo
Tuesday at 06:50 AM
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Hi!
My name is Theophane Mmesomachukwu Ezeani (one surname). I genuinely don't know how you'll be able to do this but I would like to give it a shot. Sorry if it becomes a bit of a trouble...
Veronica
Saturday at 09:14 PM
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Veronica
Katherine
Saturday at 01:40 AM
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Hello i would like to know how to spell Katherine in Korean without changing the name.
Catherine
Saturday at 01:39 AM
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Catherine
Javier Galvez Castro
Friday at 09:28 PM
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Hello, with compound names and surnames. How?
Manuel Javier Galvez Castro, this is also a name in Spanish
At birth 서진라
Sammy
Thursday at 10:37 AM
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Hello! I would love to know how my would be spelled in 한글, and what would be a Korean name with a similar meaning. Can you please help me?
My name is Siomarys Rivera Vazquez (two last names). 'Siomarys' itself is a combination of two names.
The first means "guardian" or "protected by God."
The second has several meanings, such as "fragrant," "beloved," "beautiful flower," and "blessed rain."
It is pronounced as Syoh - MmAH - RRee - ss
(The 'r' is a rolled Spanish r, turning immediately into an ee sound, as in 'eat')
What's your name? Leave a comment. We'll write your name in the Korean alphabet 😄