List of the most popular given names in South Korea explained

This is a list of the most popular given names in South Korea, by birth year and gender for various years in which data is available.

Aside from newborns being given newly popular names, many adults change their names as well, some in order to cast off birth names they feel are old-fashioned. Between 2000 and 2010, a total of 844,615 people (about 1 in every 60 South Koreans) applied to change their names; 730,277 were approved. In 2010, 552 men changed their name to Min-jun, and 1,401 women changed their name to Seo-yeon.[1]

2021

Boys[2] !Common
spelling!MR!RR!Hangul!Count
I-junIjunIjun이준2833
Seo-junSŏjunSeojun서준2396
Ha-junHajunHajun하준2227
Do-yunDoyunDoyun도윤2199
Eun-uŬnuEunu은우1931
Si-uSiuSiu시우1831
Ji-hoChihoJiho지호1606
Ye-junYejunYejun예준1455
Yu-junYujunYujun유준1380
Su-hoSuhoSuho수호1360
Girls!Common
spelling!MR!RR!Hangul!Count
Seo-ahSŏaSeoa서아2340
Ha-yoonHayunHayun하윤2064
I-seoIsŏIseo이서2023
Ji-anChianJian지안1670
JiaChiaJia지아1651
SeoyunSŏyunSeoyun서윤1524
A-rinArinArin아린1509
A-YunAyunAyun아윤1453
Ha-rinHarinHarin하린1437
Ha-eunHaŭnHaeun하은1380

2019

Boys[3] ! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul! Count
Seo-junSŏjunSeojun서준1292
Ha-joonHajunHajun하준1206
Do-yunToyunDoyun도윤1105
Eun-wooǓnuEunu은우1046
Si-wooSiuSiu시우1046
Ji-hoChihoJiho지호915
Ye-junYejunYejun예준872
Yu-junYujunYujun 유준819
Ju-wonJuwŏnJuwon주원811
Min-junMinjunMinjun민준787
Girls! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul! Count
Ji-anChianJian지안1140
Ha-yoonHayunHayun하윤1029
Seo-ahSŏaSeoa서아 990
Ha-eunHaŭnHaeun하은952
Seo-yunSŏyunSeoyun서윤894
Ha-rinHarinHarin하린860
Ji-yooChiyu Jiyu 지유832
Ji-wooChiuJiu지우807
Soo-ahSuaSua수아794
Ji-aChiaJia지아728

2017

Boys[4] ! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul! Count
Do-yunToyunDoyun도윤2,120
Ha-joonHajunHajun하준2,084
Seo-junSŏjunSeojun서준1,891
Si-wooSiuSiu시우1,786
Min-junMinjunMinjun민준1,771
Ye-junYejunYejun예준1,658
Ju-wonJuwŏnJuwon주원1,637
Yu-junYujunYujun유준1,488
Ji-hoChihoJiho지호1,458
Joon-wooChunuJunu준우1,339
Girls! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul! Count
Ha-yoonHayunHayun하윤1,946
Seo-yunSŏyunSeoyun서윤1,871
Seo-yeonSŏyŏnSeoyeon서연1,659
Ha-eunHaŭnHaeun하은1,594
Ji-yooChiyuJiyu지유1,582
Ji-wooChiuJiu지우1,469
Ha-rinHarinHarin하린1,441
Soo-ahSuaSua수아1,416
Ji-aChiaJia지아1,371
Seo-ahSŏaSeoa서아1,289

2015

Boys[5] ! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul! Count
Min-junMinjunMinjun민준3,741
Seo-junSŏjunSeojun서준3,422
Ha-joonHajunHajun하준3,007
Do-yunToyunDoyun도윤2,782
Joo-wonChuwŏnJuwon주원2,664
Ye-junYejunYejun예준2,635
Joon-wooChunuJunu준우2,174
Ji-hoChihoJiho지호2,095
Ji-huChihuJihu지후1,968
Jun-seoChunsŏJunseo준서1,930
Total births of boys222,854
Girls! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul! Count
Seo-yunSŏyunSeoyun서윤3,048
Seo-yeonSŏyŏnSeoyeon 서연2,936
Ji-wooChiuJiu지우2,668
Ji-yooChiyuJiyu지유2,468
Ha-yoonHayunHayun하윤2,356
Seo-hyeonSŏhyŏnSeohyeon서현2,212
Min-seoMinsŏMinseo민서2,209
Ha-eunHaŭnHaeun하은2,161
Ji-aChiaJia지아2,140
Da-eunTaŭnDaeun다은2,000
Total births of girls211,403

2013

Boys[6] ! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul
Min-junMinjunMinjun민준
SeojunSŏjunSeojun서준
Joo-wonChuwŏnJuwon주원
Ye-junYejunYejun예준
Si-wooSiuSiu시우
Jun-seoChunsŏJunseo준서
Do-yunToyunDoyun도윤
Hyun-wooHyŏnuHyeonu현우
Gun-wooKŏnuGeonu건우
Ji-hunChihunJihun지훈
Girls! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul
Seo-yeonSŏyŏnSeoyeon서연
Seo-yunSŏyunSeoyun서윤
Ji-wooChiuJiu지우
Seo-hyeonSŏhyŏnSeohyeon서현
Min-seoMinsŏMinseo민서
Yun-seoYunsŏYunseo윤서
Chae-wonCh'aewŏnChaewon채원
Ha-yoonHayunHayun하윤
Ji-aChiaJia지아
EunseoŬnsŏEunseo은서

2011

Boys[7] ! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul
Min-junMinjunMinjun민준
Joo-wonChuwŏnJuwon주원
Jun-seoChunsŏJunseo준서
Si-wooSi'uSiu시우
Ye-junYejunYejun예준
Seo-junSŏchunSeojun서준
Ji-huChihuJihu지후
Ji-hoonChihunJihun지훈
Hyun-wooHyŏnuHyeonu현우
Do-hyunTohyŏnDohyeon도현
Girls! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul
Seo-yeonSŏyŏnSeoyeon서연
Seo-hyeonSŏhyŏnSeohyeon서현
Min-seoMinsŏMinseo민서
Seo-yunSŏyunSeoyun서윤
Ji-wooChi'uJiu지우
Ji-minChiminJimin지민
Yun-seoYunsŏYunseo윤서
Ha-eunHa'ŭnHaeun하은
Ji-yoonChiyunJiyun지윤
Eun-seoǓnsŏEunseo은서

2010

Boys[8] ! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul! Number
Min-junMinjunMin-jun민준3,096
Ji-huChihuJi-hu지후2,159
Ji-hoonChihunJi-hun지훈1,929
Jun-seoChunsŏJun-seo준서1,876
Hyun-wooHyŏnuHyeon-u현우1,841
Ye-junYejunYe-jun예준1,747
Kun-wooKŏnuGeon-u건우1,727
Hyun-junHyŏnjunHyeon-jun현준1,681
Min-jaeMinjaeMin-jae민재1,509
Woo-jinUjinU-jin우진1,506
Girls! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul! Number
Seo-yeonSŏyŏnSeo-yeon서연3,474
Min-seoMinsŏMin-seo민서2,972
Seo-hyeonSŏ-hyŏnSeo-hyeon서현2,678
Ji-wooChi-uJi-u지우2,493
Seo-yunSŏyunSeo-yun서윤2,476
Ji-minChiminJi-min지민2,435
Su-binSubinSu-bin수빈2,208
Ha-eunHa'ŭnHa-eun하은2,156
Ye-eunYe'ŭnYe-eun예은1,993
Yun-seoYunsŏYun-seo윤서1,921

2007

Boys[9] ! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul! Number
Min-junMinjunMin-jun민준1,924
Ji-hoonChihunJi-hun지훈1,422
Hyun-wooHyŏnuHyeon-u현우1,289
Jun-seoChunsŏJun-seo준서1,279
Min-jaeMinjaeMin-jae민재1,208
Hyun-junHyŏnjunHyeon-jun현준1,198
Jun-hyeokChunhyŏkJun-hyeok준혁1,173
Seung-minSŭng-minSeung-min승민1,100
Dong-hyunTong-hyŏnDong-hyeon동현1,072
Kun-wooKŏnuGeon-u건우1,069
Girls! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul! Number
Seo-yeonSŏyŏnSeo-yeon서연2,201
Min-seoMinsŏMin-seo민서2,059
Ji-minChiminJi-min지민1,884
Seo-hyeonSŏ-hyŏnSeo-hyeon서현1,606
Min-jiMinjiMin-ji민지1,592
Ji-wonChiwŏnJi-won지원1,574
Yun-seoYunsŏYun-seo윤서1,538
Ye-eunYe'ŭnYe-eun예은1,507
Ji-yoonChiyunJi-yun지윤1,505
Su-binSubinSu-bin수빈1,499

2004

Boys[10] ! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul! Number
Min-junMinjunMin-jun민준2,641
Ji-hoonChihunJi-hun지훈2,185
Hyun-wooHyŏnuHyeon-u현우1,943
Jun-seoChunsŏJun-seo준서1,908
Woo-jinUjinU-jin우진1,811
Kun-wooKŏnuGeon-u건우1,722
Ye-junYejun Ye-jun예준1,704
Hyun-junHyŏnjunHyeon-jun현준1,636
Do-hyunTohyŏnDo-hyeon도현1,572
Dong-hyunTong-hyŏnDong-hyeon동현1,571
Girls! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul! Number
Seo-yeonSŏyŏnSeo-yeon서연3,270
Min-seoMinsŏMin-seo민서2,881
Ji-minChiminJi-min지민2,792
Seo-hyeonSŏhyŏnSeo-hyeon서현2,625
Seo-yunSŏyunSeo-yun서윤2,514
Ye-eunYe'ŭnYe-eun예은2,323
Ha-eunHa'ŭnHa-eun하은2,109
Ji-wooChi'uJi-u지우2,107
Su-binSubinSu-bin수빈2,069
Yun-seoYunsŏYun-seo윤서1,980

1990

Boys[11] ! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul
Ji-hoonChihunJi-hun지훈
Hyun-wooHyŏnuHyeon-u현우
Sung-minSŏngminSeong-min성민
Sung-hyunSŏnghyŏnSeong-hyeon성현
Min-sooMinsuMin-su민수
Jun-youngChunyŏngJun-yeong준영
Joon-hoChunhoJun-ho준호
Min-kyuMin'gyuMin-gyu민규
Dong-hyunTonghyŏnDong-hyeon동현
Seung-hyunSŭnghyŏnSeung-hyeon승현
Girls! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul
Ji-hyeChihyeJi-hye지혜
Ji-eunChi'ŭnJi-eun지은
Eun-jiŬnjiEun-ji은지
Min-jiMinjiMin-ji민지
Hye-jinHyejinHye-jin혜진
Soo-jinSujinSu-jin수진
Yu-jinYujinYu-jin유진
Seul-kiSŭlgiSeulgi슬기
Ji-hyunChihyŏnJi-hyeon지현
Ji-youngChiyŏngJi-yeong지영

1980

Boys! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul
Ji-hoonChi-hunJi-hun지훈
Sung-minSŏng-minSeong-min성민
Jung-hoonChŏng-hunJeong-hun정훈
Joon-hoChun-hoJun-ho준호
Hyun-wooHyŏn-uHyeon-u현우
Sung-hoonSŏng-hunSeong-hun성훈
Jin-hoChin-hoJin-ho진호
Dong-hyunTong-hyŏnDong-hyeon동현
Min-hoMin-hoMin-ho민호
Jun-youngChun-yŏngJun-yeong준영
Girls! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul
Ji-hyeChi-hyeJi-hye지혜
Hye-jinHye-jinHye-jin혜진
Ji-youngChi-yŏngJi-yeong지영
Ji-eunChi-ŭnJi-eun지은
Soo-jinSu-jinSu-jin수진
Eun-jungŬn-jŏngEun-jeong은정
Ji-yeonChi-yŏnJi-yeon지연
Eun-youngŬn-yŏngEun-yeong은영
Sun-youngSŏn-yŏngSeon-yeong선영
Hyun-jungHyŏn-jŏngHyeon-jeong현정

1970

Boys! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul
Jung-hoonChŏng-hunJeong-hun정훈
Sung-hoSŏng-hoSeong-ho성호
Sung-jinSŏng-jinSeong-jin성진
Ji-hoonChi-hunJi-hun지훈
Sung-hoonSŏng-hunSeong-hun성훈
Joon-hoChun-hoJun-ho준호
Jung-hoChŏng-hoJeong-ho정호
Sung-minSŏng-minSeong-min성민
Sang-hoonSang-hunSang-hun상훈
Young-jinYŏng-jinYeong-jin영진
Girls! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul
Ji-youngJi-yŏngJi-yeong지영
Hyun-jungHyŏn-jŏngHyeon-jeong현정
Eun-jungŬn-jŏngEun-jeong은정
Hyun-jooHyŏn-juHyeon-ju현주
Eun-youngŬn-yŏngEun-yeong은영
Eun-juŬn-juEun-ju은주
Mi-kyungMi-gyŏngMi-gyeong미경
Eun-kyungŬn-gyŏngEun-gyeong은경
Sun-youngSŏn-yŏngSeon-yeong선영
Mi-youngMi-yŏngMi-yeong미영

1960

Boys! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul
Sung-hoSŏng-hoSeong-ho성호
Young-sooYŏng-suYeong-su영수
Young-hoYŏng-hoYeong-ho영호
Jung-hoChŏng-hoJeong-ho정호
Young-chulYŏng-chŏlYeong-cheol영철
Young-jinYŏng-jinYeong-jin영진
Sung-sooSŏng-suSeong-su성수
Jin-hoChin-hoJin-ho진호
Sang-hoonSang-hunSang-hun상훈
Jung-hoonChŏng-hunJeong-hun정훈
Girls! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul
Mi-kyungMi-gyŏngMi-gyeong미경
Mi-sookMi-sukMi-suk미숙
Kyung-heeKyŏng-hŭiGyeong-hui경희
Young-sookYŏng-sukYeong-suk영숙
Kyung-sookKyŏng-sukGyeong-suk경숙
Jung-heeChŏng-hŭiJeong-hui정희
Mi-youngMi-yŏngMi-yeong미영
Hyun-sookHyŏn-sukHyeon-suk현숙
Young-heeYŏng-hŭiYeong-hui영희
Young-miYŏng-miYeong-mi영미

1950

Boys! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul
Young-sooYŏng-suYeong-su영수
Young-hoYŏng-hoYeong-ho영호
Sung-sooSŏng-suSeong-su성수
Young-chulYŏng-chŏlYeong-cheol영철
Jung-hoChŏng-hoJeong-ho정호
Sung-hoSŏng-hoSeong-ho성호
Young-sikYŏng-sikYeong-sik영식
Byung-chulPyŏng-chŏlByeong-cheol병철
Young-hwanYŏng-hwanYeong-hwan영환
Sang-chulSang-chŏlSang-cheol상철
Girls! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul
Young-sookYŏng-sukYeong-suk영숙
Jung-sookChŏng-sukJeong-suk정숙
Young-heeYŏng-hŭiYeong-hui영희
Jung-heeChŏng-hŭiJeong-hui정희
Myung-sookMyŏng-sukMyeong-suk명숙
Hyun-sookHyŏn-sukHyeon-suk현숙
Kyung-sookKyŏng-sukGyeong-suk경숙
In-sookIn-sukIn-suk인숙
Kyung-heeKyŏng-hŭiGyeong-hui경희
Kyung-okKyŏng-okGyeong-ok경옥

1945

Boys[12]
Common
spelling		MRRRHangul
Young-suYŏngsuYeongsu영수
Young-hoYŏnghoYeongho영호
Young-sikYŏngsikYeongsik영식
Jung-woongChŏng'ungJeong-ung정웅
Young-gilYŏng'gilYeong-gil영길
Young-ilYŏng'ilYeong-il영일
Jung-sooChŏngsuJeongsu정수
Jung-namChŏngnamJeongnam정남
Kwang-suKwangsuGwangsu광수
Joong-sooChungsuJungsu중수
Girls
Common
spelling		MRRRHangul
Young-jaYŏngjaYeongja영자
Jeong-jaChŏngjaJeongja정자
Soon-jaSunjaSunja순자
Chun-jaCh'unjaChunja춘자
Kyung-jaKyŏngjaGyeongja경자
Ok-jaOkjaOkja옥자
Myung-jaMyŏngjaMyeongja명자
Sook-jaSukjaSukja숙자
Jung-soonChŏngsunJeongsun정순
Hwa-jaHwajaHwaja화자

1940

Boys[13] ! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul
Young-hoYŏng-hoYeong-ho영호
Jong-sooChong-suJong-su종수
Byung-hoPyŏng-hoByeong-ho병호
Young-giYŏng-giYeong-gi영기
Il-sungIl-sŏngIl-seong일성
Young-sikYŏng-sikYeong-sik영식
Kyung-sooKyŏng-suGyeong-su경수
Young-chulYŏng-chŏlYeong-cheol영철
Sung-kiSŏng-giSeong-gi성기
Jong-yulChong-yŏlJong-yeol종열
Girls! Common
spelling! MR! RR! Hangul
Young-jaYŏng-jaYeong-ja영자
Young-sookYŏng-sukYeong-suk영숙
Kyung-jaKyŏng-jaGyeong-ja경자
Jung-sookChŏng-sukJeong-suk정숙
Sook-jaSuk-jaSuk-ja숙자
Jeong-jaChŏng-jaJeong-ja정자
Soon-jaSun-jaSun-ja순자
Soon-heeSun-hiSun-hui순희
Jung-soonChŏng-sunJeong-sun정순
Chun-jaCh'un-jaChun-ja춘자

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: One in 60 Koreans Want to Change Their Names. The Chosun Ilbo. 2010-03-22. 2012-11-09.
  2. Web site: What are the Most Popular Baby Names in Korea in 2021?. .hapskorea.com. 13 August 2021 .
  3. News: 2019년 아기 이름 인기순위… 男 서준·女 지안 1위. 2019 Baby Names by Popularity... First Place: Males - Seo-joon · Females Ji-an . Kukmin Ilbo. 2 October 2019. 11 August 2020.
  4. News: 2017 최고 인기 이름…딸은 하윤, 아들은 도윤. The most popular names of 2017 ... Ha-yun for daughters, Do-yun for sons. JoongAng Ilbo. 31 October 2017. 18 October 2018.
  5. News: 2015 신생아 인기 이름… 男 '민준'-女 2년째 '서윤' . Money Today . 16 December 2015 . 5 February 2016.
  6. Web site: 신생아 인기 이름 1위, 철수와 영자에서…세월 따라 이름도 . Maeil Gyeongje . 2014-07-28 . 2014-09-20.
  7. Web site: http://www.johnsonsbaby.co.kr/babycenter/article/article_view.asp?CateNo=6&TopicNo=77&ArticleNo=819 . ko:2011년 인기 이름 리포트 . Johnson's Baby Center . 2013-10-22 . Korean . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131023061117/http://www.johnsonsbaby.co.kr/babycenter/article/article_view.asp?CateNo=6&TopicNo=77&ArticleNo=819 . 2013-10-23 .
  8. News: 남자 → '민준' 여자 → '서연' 가장 많아 . Law Times . 2010-01-20 . 2011-09-19.
  9. Web site: 파이낸셜뉴스입력 2007.10.09 18:15수정 2014.11.04 22:26 . 2007-10-09 . 3년간 집계한 가장 많은 이름…男 ‘민준’ 女‘서연’ . 2023-06-23 . 파이낸셜뉴스 . ko-KR.
  10. News: 너도 민준이니… 어! 또 서연이야. 이진희 (Yi Jin-hui). Hankook Ilbo. 2009-01-28. 2012-10-27.
  11. Web site: 한국인이 가장 줗아하는 이름은 무엇일까?. babyname.co.kr. https://web.archive.org/web/20131020201918/http://www.babyname.co.kr/menu01_09.php?cate1=14&name= . 2012-11-09. 2013-10-20 .
  12. News: 요즘 인기있는 이름 1위? 남자-'민준' 여자-'서연'. The most popular name these days? Boys: 'Min-jun', Girls: 'Seo-yeon'. The Chosun Ilbo. 20 March 2007. 10 February 2018.
  13. Web site: 한국인이 가장 줗아하는 이름은 무엇일까? . babyname.co.kr . 2012-11-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131020214127/http://www.babyname.co.kr/menu01_09.php?standard=&val=&PAGE_NO=2 . 2013-10-20 .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of the most popular given names in South Korea".

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