Korean names often reflect the meaning of the word and have deep connections with nature, animals, and other objects found in nature.
Many names also have meanings based on historical events or religious beliefs, with the hope that these meanings will bring good fortune and protection to their lives.
In this article, we will explore the top 60 most meaningful Korean boy names, including their meanings and origins. Whether you’re looking for something classic or trendy, these names are sure to inspire you.
Korean Names for Boys
Koreans, on average, have two names: one name they use in their everyday life and another that is reserved for use among family members and close friends.
The former tends to be more descriptive and often takes the form of a word or idiom that describes a particular personality or character aspect.
As a result, Korean parents often put a great deal of thought into choosing the perfect name for their baby boy. It’s a practice that has been around for centuries, and we’ve collected some of our favorite boys’ and girls’ names from it.
By having a name that is both meaningful and easy to pronounce, Korean children can often maintain a strong sense of their Korean identity even as they assimilate into their new culture.
Powerful and Popular Korean Boy Names
Many Korean parents consider a name’s meaning when picking a baby name. Popular Korean names often have meanings that are directly related to the word itself such as the meaning of the name Kim is “gold” in Korean.
Korean boys’ names have both unique meanings and charming sounds that will make your child stand out from the crowd. Whether you’re looking for something classic or trendy, we’ve got you covered.
Keep reading to discover the top 60 most meaningful Korean boy names:
Dae-Jung
This name means “vast” in Korean. Kim Dae-Jung is a former president of South Korea that has received a Nobel Peace Prize.
Duri
This means two in the Gyeongsang dialect
Korean names typically contain two syllables and are written using hanja characters with Chinese and Korean roots. Duri is one of several native Korean words that some parents have selected for their children’s names.
Yoonseo
South Korean unisex given name which means “good person.”
Jaehyeon
Korean unisex given name meaning combinations of Jae means respect and Hyun means virtuous
Joon Woo
Joon is a Korean word for handsome, Woo means divine intervention in Korea and protection or rain
Yooheon
Name that signifies a freedom-loving and free-spirited individual.
Dooheon
Unpredictable, Adorable, Confident
In-Su
The meaning of the name “In-Su” is: “Long-life; , preserving wisdom”.
Ha-joon
Ha-joon has an uncommon yet endearing meaning, so it’s no surprise that it’s a well-liked boy’s name in Korea. Joon means “talented” or “handsome,” while Ha signifies “summer.”
Jinwoo
Korean masculine given name meaning ‘treasured friend’
Baehyun
Typically a Korean name given to a guy meaning Wise and Virtuous
Wonwoo
‘Won’ means round and ‘Woo’ means help. It means to live by helping out with a rounded heart
Sang-woo
Korean origin and means “Working Man”
Myeong
The Korean name Myeong, also spelled Myung, Myoung, or Myong, evolved from the Chinese name Ming. In English, this name means ‘Clear’
Min-seok
From Sino-Korean “stone resembling jade”
Min-jun
Min, like joon above, means “talented, handsome,” while Jun, has two possible hanja combinations with similar pronunciations, one of which means “quick, clever, sharp,” and the other of which means “gentle, affable”
Seung-heon
Seung in the Korean origin, means ‘successor or winning’, and heon means ‘happiness comes from pursuing ideal’
Seul-ki
This gender-neutral name means wisdom. In contrast to conventional names written with hanja of Sino-Korean roots, is derived from a Korean word.
Ju-won
Ju-won is a well-liked option that mixes hanja to provide a special meaning. When won, which means “first, origin,” and the alternative for u, which might imply “circumference,” are combined, you have a powerful name; possibly the beginning of the Earth?
Hong-suk
Hong is the common English spelling of 홍, in hanja, it means “wide” or “big”; Suk in Korean means ‘stone, strong’.
Min-gwang
From Sino-Korean 光 (gwang) this Korean boy name means “light” combined with 民 (min) “people, populace, nation” or 旻 (min) meaning “heaven”.
Sang-won
A name common for baby boy with five possible meanings
Yeong-jae
Young Jae” is: ‘Prosperity; eternal and respect’, great Korean name that’ll earn him respect in life
Yu-jun
Consider the name Yu-jun for a strong or powerful Korean boy. Yu’s roots are unclear, however when paired with jun, you have a few choices. The pronunciation of jun is “gifted,” whereas that of jn is “king, ruler.”
Hyun Ki
Hyun Ki is a popular Korean baby name for Christian baby boy. It means “a combination of wisdom and foundation.”
Baby Boy Names Inspired by Popular K-Pop Artists
The most well-known, aesthetically oriented, unconventionally styled, and trend-setting music genre of the twenty-first century is K-pop or Korean Pop.
K-pop, which has its roots in South Korea, is influenced by a variety of musical genres, including pop, experimental, rock, hip-hop, R&B, electronic, and dance.
If your child is a boy, you may want to consider these names:
Seok-Jin
Seok-jin means tin or stone combined with treasure, time, season, or to guard.
Kim Seok-jin, a member of BTS and a singer-songwriter, is known for his emotive range and falsetto voice.
Chan-yeol
Chan-yeol means bright, vivid, illuminating, vehement, ardent, and fiery.
Park Chan-yeol, a vocalist for EXO, EXO-K, and EXO-SC, goes by the stage name Chanyeol.
Ho-Seok
Ho-Seok combines tiger, heroic, or abundant with stone or tin.
J-Hope, also known as Jung Ho-seok, is a solo artist, composer, record producer, and singer with BTS.
Jae-sung
The Korean boys’ name Jae-sung can mean exist, rule, or kill, and finished, sincere, honest.
Boxer Lee Jae-sung is a South Korean professional boxer fighting in the featherweight division. Lee was the Korean National Super-Bantamweight Champion.
Jeong-hun
Jeong-hun combines correct, proper, and right with rank and meritorious deed.
Yeon Jeong-hun, an actor and auto aficionado, presented the show’s first three seasons in Korea.
Ji-min
Ji-Min combines purpose, ambition, or wisdom with clever, sharp, or jade.
Jimin, a singer, composer, dancer, and member of the BTS is a stage name for Park Ji-min.
Nam-Joon
Nam can mean man or south, and while 34 hanja read joon, the character meaning king or ruler is used most frequently.
Kim Nam-joon, the lead vocalist of the Korean K-Pop boy band BTS, goes by the stage name RM.
Jung-kook
Jung-kook can also be transcribed as Jeong-guk. It combines the hanja for king, ruler, and nation, state, country.
The youngest member of the South Korean band BTS, Jeon Jung-kook is most popularly known by his stage name Jungkook.
Traditional Korean Names With Their Meanings
If you’re looking for a name with Old-World roots and traditional values, you might consider these traditional and unique Korean boy names:
Bon-hwa – A Korean boy name, Bon-hwa means glorious
Do-yun – path, road, way, and consent, allow
Eun-woo – kindness, mercy, charity
Jeong-hoon – proper and rank
Ji-hoon – wisdom/purpose and rank
Jinhae – city known for its cherry blossom festival
Jung-hoon – honest and rank
Han-gyeol – uniformity
Gyeong – In – “capital city”, (gyeong) meaning “scenery, view”
Han-wool – heavenly
Hyun- woo – wise and house
Noo-ri – hail
Sang-hoon – benevolent and rank
Seo-jun – auspicious, comfortable, or unfold, and handsome, talented
Si-woo – begin and divine intervention
Sung-ho – successor and greatness
Sung-hoon – successor and rank
Sung-jin – successor and truth
Sung-min – successor and quick/gentle
Young-chul – eternal and firm
Young-ho – eternal and greatness
Young-soo – eternal and lifespan
Here are Korean baby names that refer to personality:
Ae-Jin: Meaning “love” or “care”.
Bak Ji: Meaning “strong”.
Chan Ho: Meaning “smile” or “bright”.
Min: A classic Korean baby name for girls with the dual meaning “sharp-minded” or “quick response.”
Gong Chan Woo: Means “a well-mannered person who has good manners”.
Chang Hwan: Meaning “long life”.
Chang Min: Meaning “eternal”.
Chang Yeol: Meaning “eternal”.
Choi Jin Hyuk: Meaning “to give birth to a king”.
Choi Min Ki: Meaning “knowledge of the heart”.
Choi Seung Hyun: Meaning “to give birth to a king”.
Gong Min Young: Means “a blessed child who is born with luck and happiness”.
Cute Korean Boy Names With Cool Meanings
Choosing a Korean baby name for your little boy will improve your child’s character or personality and can make your child successful in life.
Byeong-ho – byeong meaning “bright, luminous, glorious” combined with ho meaning “great, numerous, vast”
Dae-jung – big, great, vast, large, high combined with jung meaning middle
Duri – two people or a couple
Haneul – indigenous Korean name meaning heaven
Hyeon – gender-neutral name of Korean origin that means worthy, virtuous
Il-seong – From Sino-Korean, il meaning “sun, day” and seong meaning “completed, finished, succeeded”
Seok – stone and the other meaning “ancient”
U-jin – genuine and blessing
Korean Naming Conventions
Korean names typically consist of two syllables and are written using hanja characters, which are Chinese characters with Korean roots. The use of hanja characters in Korean names is a longstanding tradition that dates back to the Three Kingdoms period in Korean history.
The structure of Korean names is also significant. Typically, Korean names consist of a family name followed by a given name. The family name, or seong, comes first and is shared by all members of the same family.
The given name, or ireum, comes second and is unique to each individual. In some cases, a person may have two given names, with the first being used in everyday life and the second being reserved for use among family and close friends.
Korean names often have significant meanings associated with them. Many names are derived from words that describe different things in nature, such as “bamboo, flower, or tree.” Others have meanings that are based on historical events or religious beliefs, with the hope that these meanings will bring good fortune and protection to their lives.
In addition, many Korean names reflect the personality or character of the person who bears the name. As a result, Korean parents often put a great deal of thought into choosing the perfect name for their baby.
