In the past few decades, Korean culture and influence have grown exponentially. Recently, we’ve seen an explosion of music, movies, and shows rooted in Korean backgrounds. KPop bands such as BTS are touring America, and Parasite, a Korean drama, just won an Oscar! With the growth of Korean culture, Korean names have become more popular as well.
Names with Korean normally consist of three syllables. The first referencing the family name, and the other two make up the child’s name. One popular choice for boys is Dae-Seong, which means “vast personality.” Another is Chin-Hwa which means “prosperous and wealthy person.” After all, that’s probably a future you want for your son!
If you’re looking for names that reflect personality traits instead, you may like the name Chung-Hee which means “righteous and dutiful”. There’s also the name Seuk-Chin which means an “unshakeable rock,” or someone who stands strong by their beliefs. Finally, there’s Baek Hyeon which means “worthy and virtuous.”
If you’ve been influenced by the recent rise in Korean names, or you have Korean roots that you want your little one to acknowledge, we’ve compiled a list of names for you to look at! Choosing a Korean name can help your baby boy stand apart from others, all while admiring the complexity and depth of Korean culture. Just take a peek below at some of our favorite choices.
Baek Hyeon
Meaning: Worthy and virtuous
Origin: Korean
Baek-Hyun
Meaning: Baek means white, and hyun can mean, among other things, clever, shine, and string
Origin: Korean
Bitgaram
Meaning: Shining river
Origin: Korean
Bon-Hwa
Meaning: Glorious
Origin: Korean
Byung-Ho
Meaning: Glorious, bright, luminous, and vast, numerous, great
Origin: Korean
Chan-Yeol
Meaning: Bright, vivid, illuminating, and vehement, ardent, and fiery
Origin: Korean
Chin-Hwa
Meaning: Prosperous and wealthy person
Origin: Korean
Chin-Mae
Meaning: Truth
Origin: Korean
Chul
Meaning: Firm
Origin: Korean
Chul-Moo
Meaning: Iron weapon
Origin: Korean
Chung-Hee
Meaning: Righteous and dutiful
Origin: Korean
Dae-Hyun
Meaning: Big, great and shine, glitter, show off
Origin: Korean
Dae-Jung
Meaning: Vast, great, high, and middle
Origin: Korean
Dae-Seong
Meaning: Vast personality
Origin: Korean
Dak-Ho
Meaning: Deep lake
Origin: Korean
Dal
Meaning: Moon
Origin: Korean
Do-Yun
Meaning: Path, road, way, and consent, allow
Origin: Korean
Dong
Meaning: East
Origin: Korean
Dong-Geun
Meaning: East and foundation, root
Origin: Korean
Dong-Sun
Meaning: Eastern integrity
Origin: Korean
Dong-Yul
Meaning: Eastern passion
Origin: Korean
Duck-Hwan
Meaning: Integrity returns
Origin: Korean
Duck-Young
Meaning: Integrity lasts
Origin: Korean
Duri
Meaning: Two
Origin: Korean
Eun
Meaning: Kindness, affection, charity, mercy, or flourishing, many, great, abundant
Origin: Korean
Ga-Eul
Meaning: Autumn, fall
Origin: Korean
Ga-Ram
Meaning: River
Origin: Korean
Ha-Da
Meaning: To do
Origin: Korean
Haneul
Meaning: Sky, heaven
Origin: Korean
Han-Wool
Meaning: Heavenly
Origin: Korean
Ha-Ru
Meaning: Day
Origin: Korean
Him-Chan
Meaning: Strong
Origin: Korean
Ho
Meaning: Tiger, abundant, or heroic
Origin: Korean
Ho-Seok
Meaning: Combines tiger, heroic, or abundant with stone or tin
Origin: Korean
Hwan
Meaning: Anxiety, happiness, and to shine
Origin: Korean
Hyun
Meaning: Worthy, virtuous, and shine
Origin: Korean
Hyun-Woo
Meaning: Prominent, display, to manifest, and protect, assess
Origin: Korean
Il-Sung
Meaning: Day, sun, with finished, succeeded, completed
Origin: Korean
Iseul
Meaning: Dew
Origin: Korean
Jae
Meaning: Ability, talent, wealth, and riches
Origin: Korean
Jae-Sung
Meaning: Exist, rule, or kill, and finished, sincere, honest
Origin: Korean
Jeong-Hun
Meaning: Combines correct, proper, and right with rank, meritorious deed
Origin: Korean
Ji-Hun
Meaning: Intellect, wisdom, ambition, or purpose, and rank, meritorious deed
Origin: Korean
Ji-Min
Meaning: Purpose, ambition, or wisdom with clever, sharp, or jade
Origin: Korean
Jong-In
Meaning: Quiet, gentle, or chaste, and kindness, benevolence
Origin: Korean
Kyung
Meaning: View, scenery, capital city, respect
Origin: Korean
Min
Meaning: Heaven, jade, sight, and trickling water
Origin: Korean
Mi-Reu
Meaning: Dragon
Origin: Korean
Nam-Gil
Meaning: My way
Origin: Korean
Seuk-Chin
Meaning: Unshakeable rock
Origin: Korean