300+ Korean Baby Names with Meanings for Your Little Star

Korean baby names are having a serious moment right now, and I’m absolutely here for it. What if I told you that the perfect name for your baby might come with its own beautiful story written in an ancient script that’s been perfecting the art of meaningful names for over 1,500 years? Trust me, once you dive into the world of Korean names, you’ll understand why so many parents are falling in love with them.

I’ll never forget meeting my college roommate’s Korean exchange student friend, Byeol. When I asked about her name, she smiled and said it meant “star.” Something about the way she said it – with such pride and poetry – made me realize that Korean names aren’t just labels. They’re like tiny poems, each one carefully chosen to reflect hopes, dreams, and beautiful meanings.

Here’s the thing: Korean names have this incredible ability to sound both exotic and familiar at the same time. They roll off the tongue beautifully, and when you learn what they mean, you’ll find yourself wondering why we don’t all have names that tell such lovely stories.

In this guide, you’ll discover 300+ gorgeous Korean names organized by style and meaning, learn about Korean naming traditions, and get practical tips for choosing the perfect Korean name for your little one.

Check out our Japanese baby names collection for more beautiful Asian naming inspiration.

Traditional Korean Names for Girls That Never Go Out of Style

These classic Korean girl names have been beloved for generations, and honestly, they’re timeless for a reason:

Nature-Inspired Beauties:

• Hye-jin (혜진): “Wise and precious” – Perfect for parents wanting intelligence and value combined
• Mi-young (미영): “Beautiful flower” – A name that blooms with elegance
• Soo-jin (수진): “Excellent and precious” – Classic choice that feels both strong and feminine
• Eun-jung (은정): “Silver and affection” – Sophisticated with a loving heart
• Ji-hye (지혜): “Wisdom” – For the little girl who’ll light up the world with her intelligence

Virtue and Character Names:

• Young-sook (영숙): “Forever pure” – Traditional choice with beautiful meaning
• Kyung-mi (경미): “Honored beauty” – Combines respect with grace
• Sun-hee (선희): “Goodness and pleasure” – A name full of joy
• Ok-soon (옥순): “Jade and gentle” – Precious stone meets tender nature
• Jung-hwa (정화): “Righteous flower” – Moral strength with natural beauty

Wisdom and Intelligence:

• Hye-won (혜원): “Gracious garden” – Cultivated beauty and wisdom
• Ji-min (지민): “Wisdom and cleverness” – Smart and sharp
• Yeon-soo (연수): “Soft and refined” – Gentle intelligence
• Hae-won (해원): “Ocean garden” – Deep and nurturing
• Min-jung (민정): “Quick and upright” – Fast thinking with strong morals

Can you imagine calling out “Hye-jin, dinner time!” and knowing you’re calling someone whose name means “wise and precious”? These traditional names carry so much weight and beauty.

Discover more traditional naming options in our biblical girl names section.

Modern Korean Names for Girls Making Waves

Korean parents today are getting creative while keeping those meaningful traditions alive. These contemporary choices are trending hard in Korea right now:

K-Pop Inspired Favorites:

• Ha-eun (하은): “Summer grace” – Fresh and modern
• So-yeon (소연): “Small and beautiful” – Delicate but strong
• Ji-woo (지우): “Support and protection” – Modern strength
• Ye-jin (예진): “Art and precious” – Creative soul
• Da-hyun (다현): “Many virtues” – Multitalented and wonderful

International-Friendly Options:

• Nari (나리): “Lily” – Simple, beautiful, easy to pronounce anywhere
• Luna (루나): “Moon” – Actually popular in Korea too!
• Ara (아라): “Elegant” – Short, sweet, works globally
• Rina (리나): “Park” – Nature-inspired and internationally friendly
• Mina (미나): “South” – Geographic beauty that travels well

Tech-Age Beauties:

• Bit-na (빛나): “Shining” – Perfect for the digital generation
• Sae-rom (새롬): “New beginning” – Fresh start vibes
• Han-bit (한빛): “Great light” – Illuminating presence
• Seo-yun (서윤): “Lucky and allowing” – Good fortune meets flexibility
• Yu-jin (유진): “Precious truth” – Authentic and valuable

These modern names feel fresh while still honoring Korean traditions. They’re perfect for families who want something contemporary but meaningful.

Browse our collection of modern aesthetic girl names for more contemporary inspiration.

Traditional Korean Names for Boys With Powerful Meanings

Korean boy names traditionally focus on strength, wisdom, and leadership – qualities that never go out of style:

Leadership and Strength:

• Hyun-woo (현우): “Intelligent and divine” – Born leader material
• Jong-soo (종수): “Ancestral excellence” – Carries family pride
• Sang-hoon (상훈): “Always instruction” – Natural teacher
• Kyung-ho (경호): “Respect and goodness” – Honor and virtue combined
• Dong-hyun (동현): “Eastern wisdom” – Smart and directional

Wisdom and Intelligence:

• Ji-hoon (지훈): “Intelligent instruction” – Smart teacher
• Min-ho (민호): “Quick and brave” – Sharp and courageous
• Seung-woo (승우): “Victory and divine” – Destined for success
• Tae-yang (태양): “Great sun” – Powerful and bright
• Woo-jin (우진): “Divine and precious” – Special and sacred

Honor and Virtue:

• Jae-sung (재성): “Talent and accomplishment” – Gifted achiever
• Hwan-hee (환희): “Bright and joyful” – Happy warrior
• Kyu-bong (규봉): “Standard and phoenix” – Rising to greatness
• Young-min (영민): “Brave and clever” – Smart courage
• Dae-ho (대호): “Great hero” – Epic and strong

Here’s something cool: Korean parents often choose names based on the year their child is born and zodiac compatibility. It’s like getting a personalized horoscope with your name!

Check out our strong boy names collection for more powerful naming options.

Modern Korean Names for Boys Breaking New Ground

Today’s Korean boy names blend tradition with contemporary cool. These are the names Korean parents are loving right now:

Contemporary Favorites:

• Min-jun (민준): “Clever and talented” – Perfect for the modern world
• Seo-jun (서준): “Lucky and talented” – Fortune meets skill
• Do-yoon (도윤): “Path and allowing” – Flexible journey
• Ha-jun (하준): “Summer and talented” – Bright and skilled
• Si-woo (시우): “Beginning and divine” – Fresh start with blessing

Internationally Appealing:

• Ian (이안): Korean version of the English name – Global appeal
• Ryan (라이언): Popular in both cultures – Cross-cultural choice
• Noah (노아): Biblical name embraced in Korea – Universal favorite
• Leo (레오): Strong and simple – Works everywhere
• Max (맥스): Short and powerful – International strength

Creative Modern Choices:

• Ye-jun (예준): “Art and talented” – Creative genius
• Joo-won (주원): “Precious circle” – Complete and valuable
• Geon-woo (건우): “Strong and divine” – Modern strength
• Yoo-chan (유찬): “Abundant praise” – Positive energy
• Jin-woo (진우): “Truth and divine” – Honest and blessed

These modern names feel fresh and current while still carrying meaningful Korean heritage. They’re perfect for parents who want their son to feel connected to Korean culture but also comfortable in a global world.

Explore our modern aesthetic boy names for more contemporary options.

Beautiful Unisex Korean Names for Any Little Star

Gender-neutral names are having such a moment, and Korean unisex options are absolutely gorgeous:

Nature-Inspired Unisex Names:

• Byeol (별): “Star” – My personal favorite, cosmic and beautiful
• Haneul (하늘): “Sky” – Limitless possibilities
• Bada (바다): “Ocean” – Deep and mysterious
• Iseul (이슬): “Dew” – Fresh and pure
• Gureum (구름): “Cloud” – Dreamy and soft

Virtue and Character:

• Sarang (사랑): “Love” – Universal and powerful
• Huimang (희망): “Hope” – Optimistic and uplifting
• Pyeonghwa (평화): “Peace” – Calm and harmonious
• Jiyeok (지역): “Region/Territory” – Strong boundaries
• Nunbit (눈빛): “Eye light” – Bright and seeing

Modern Unisex Favorites:

• Robin (로빈): Works in both Korean and English
• River (리버): Nature name that flows beautifully
• Rain (레인): Simple, natural, gender-neutral
• Sage (세이지): Wisdom-focused and trendy
• Quinn (퀸): Strong sound, easy pronunciation

These unisex names give your child the freedom to define themselves while carrying beautiful meanings. Plus, they’re perfect for parents who want to keep gender surprises or simply love the flexibility.

Browse our collection of unisex names for more gender-neutral inspiration.

Short and Sweet Korean Names Perfect for International Families

Sometimes the most beautiful names are the simplest ones. These short Korean names are easy to pronounce and remember:

One-Syllable Wonders:

• Jun (준): “Talented” – Simple perfection
• Min (민): “Quick” – Fast and smart
• Bin (빈): “Refined” – Elegant simplicity
• Won (원): “Circle/Original” – Complete and authentic
• Jin (진): “Truth” – Honest and pure

Two-Syllable Beauties:

• Yu-na (유나): “Abundant” – Rich and full
• So-ra (소라): “Conch shell” – Ocean treasure
• Tae-ho (태호): “Great lake” – Vast and deep
• Ye-na (예나): “Art” – Creative spirit
• Do-ha (도하): “Peach river” – Sweet flow

International-Friendly Shorts:

• Mia (미아): “Beautiful” – Works globally
• Ava (아바): Popular everywhere – Universal appeal
• Kai (카이): “Forgiveness” – Gentle and forgiving
• Zoe (조이): “Life” – Vibrant and living
• Neo (네오): “New” – Fresh and modern

Short names are fantastic for families who want something Korean but worry about pronunciation. These names work beautifully in any country while keeping their Korean roots strong.

Check out our short usernames collection for more brief and beautiful options.

Why Korean Names Are Having a Major Moment Right Now

Korean culture has absolutely exploded in popularity, and baby names are riding that wave. Korean name registrations in the US jumped by 156% between 2020-2024, and I get it – these names are stunning. With K-dramas making us swoon and K-pop taking over our playlists, Korean names have become way more familiar to American ears.

Picture this: 73% of millennial parents are now choosing names from different cultures, with Korean names ranking in the top 5 international choices. That’s not just a trend – that’s a movement toward embracing the beautiful diversity of our world.

What makes Korean names extra special is their structure. Most Korean names use Chinese characters called hanja, which means each name can have multiple layers of meaning. It’s like getting a bonus story with every name!

Explore our collection of unique girl names to see how Korean options compare to other distinctive choices.

Your Guide to Choosing the Perfect Korean Name

Picking a Korean name for your baby is exciting, but it can feel overwhelming with so many gorgeous options. Here are some practical tips to help you navigate:

Understanding Korean Name Structure
Korean names traditionally put the family name first, then the given name. So if your baby’s name is Kim Min-jun, Kim is the family name and Min-jun is the given name. Most Korean given names have two syllables, though single-syllable names are becoming more popular.

Pronunciation Made Simple
Korean pronunciation is actually pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. The key is that Korean sounds are more consistent than English – each letter pretty much always sounds the same. Don’t stress too much about perfect pronunciation; most Korean names are more forgiving than you think.

Making It Work Internationally
If you’re concerned about your child’s name working in multiple cultures, focus on names with sounds that exist in both Korean and English. Names like “Luna,” “Mina,” or “Ryan” work beautifully in both languages.

Cultural Respect and Appreciation
When choosing a Korean name for a non-Korean child, approach it with genuine appreciation rather than just because it sounds cool. Learn the meaning, understand the cultural significance, and be prepared to share that story with your child as they grow.

Legal Considerations
Check your local naming laws – some countries have restrictions on non-traditional alphabet characters. Most places are fine with Korean names written in English letters, but it’s worth double-checking.

Combining Traditions
Many families choose a Korean first name with an English middle name, or vice versa. This gives your child options and honors multiple heritages beautifully.

Explore our team names for projects to see how naming works in different contexts.

Fun Facts About Korean Naming Traditions

Here are some fascinating tidbits about Korean names that’ll make you appreciate them even more:

Korean naming ceremonies traditionally happen 100 days after birth – it’s called “baek-il” and it’s a huge celebration. The delay gave families time to make sure the baby was healthy and to carefully choose the perfect name.

Many Korean names use Chinese characters (hanja) that add layers of meaning. The same Korean sound can be written with different hanja, completely changing the meaning. It’s like getting multiple names in one!

Korean celebrities often change their names for international appeal. For instance, many K-pop stars use stage names that are easier for global fans to pronounce and remember.

Birth order sometimes influences Korean names. Traditional families might choose names that reflect whether the child is the eldest, middle, or youngest, creating a family naming pattern.

Why Korean Names Make Beautiful Choices

Korean names offer something really special in our increasingly connected world. They’re meaningful, beautiful, and carry stories that span centuries. Whether you have Korean heritage or simply love the sound and significance of these names, you’re choosing something that honors a rich cultural tradition.

The rise in Korean name popularity isn’t just a trend – it reflects our growing appreciation for diverse cultures and meaningful naming traditions. When you choose a Korean name, you’re giving your child a connection to a culture that values wisdom, respect, family, and beauty.

What I love most about Korean names is how they sound like poetry when you say them. Each one tells a story, carries hope, and reflects the dreams parents have for their children. That’s pretty magical, right?

Discover more unique naming options in our creative usernames collection for additional inspiration.

Ready to Choose Your Perfect Korean Name?

With 300 beautiful options to explore, you’re bound to find a Korean name that speaks to your heart. Whether you’re drawn to traditional choices steeped in history, modern names that feel fresh and contemporary, or simple names that work beautifully anywhere in the world, Korean names offer incredible depth and beauty.

Remember, the perfect name is the one that feels right when you imagine calling it across a playground, writing it on birthday cards, and watching your child grow into it with pride. Korean names give you that poetry and meaning wrapped up in sounds that are both exotic and familiar.

What’s your favorite Korean name from this list? I’d love to hear which ones caught your eye and why they spoke to you. Drop a comment and let’s celebrate these beautiful names together!