250 Unique & Cute Korean Boy Names With Meanings

Korean names start with the family name and two given names, which are used to form one name.

Traditionally a child takes their father’s surname like in many other cultures. But women do not change their legal names at marriage.

List Of 250 Unique & Cute Korean Boy Names With Meanings:

Hyeon-Jeong

In this combination, Hyeon-Jeong means virtuous, shine, worthy, and loyal.

Jae-hyun

It is meaning wealth, talent, wisdom, and virtue. Kim Jae-hyun is a drummer and a member of the band N.Flying.

Ga-on

”Center” or ”middle” and is pronounced as “gah-on”.

Ji-hoon

Ji-hoon is made of ji (”wisdom” 智) and hoon (”merit built through deeds” 訓).

Young-soo

It means eternal and longevity. It also symbolizes long-lasting health and life. In 1960 Young-soo was the 2nd-most popular name for boys in South Korea.

Kyung-won

Kyung (景) is ”light” or ”scenery” and won means round or garden. So, it has a meaning that I like “garden of brightness.” Kwon Kyung-won is a professional footballer and has an international career. Park Kyung-won was the first female Korean civilian aviator.

Shi-yool

Shi is ”poetry” or ”beginning” (there are 56 Hanja with the reading shi) and Yool means rhythm and to lead.

Yi-joon

Yi-joon was the #1 boy name in Korea for 2021. The elements yi mean art and joon talented. Joon is written with only one hanja.

Seok-jin

Stone and precious/great treasure

Hyun-soo

Virtue with excellence as well as one who is intelligent 현수.

Seon-jae

Ryu Seon-jae (”goodness and wealth”) is the singer in Lovely Runner.

Tae-il

Tae-il is ”great sun” 泰日.

Korean Baby Boy Names with Dark Meanings:

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation
Bulgasari	”cannot be killed”	bool-gah-SAH-ree
Hyeon-seok	dark stone	HYUN-suk
Saja	lion, or death’s messenger	SAH-jah
Heuk-ryong	black dragon	HUNG-nyong
Yeom-ra	king of the underworld	YUM-rah
Mu-yeong	”shadowless.”	MOO-yung
Pok-pung	violent storm	POK-poong
Hyeon-mu	Black Tortoise	HYUN-moo
Dok-kaebi	goblin	DOK-keh-bee
Geom	sword	GUM
Yu-ryeong	”ghost”	YOO-ryung
Heuk-ho	black tiger	HUK-ho
Samjogo	three-legged crow	sahm-joh-GOH
Cheon-dung	thunder	CHUN-doong
Hwang-cheon	the yellow springs	HWANG-chun

The list continues:

Joo-hyuk

This one is ”pillar and brilliance” or “radiant excellence”.

Geon-woo

Geon (建), to build, with woo (宇), house.

Do-hun

It means ”way” and ”merit.” Im Do-hun participated in two Summer Olympics as a professional volleyball player.

Ye-jun

Art with talent. In 2015 it was in 6th place. Kim Ye-jun starred in The Rebel and Misaeng: Incomplete Life.

Ji-sung

Park Ji-sung won four Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League. Ji is meaning ”wisdom” and sung ”success” or ”completion.”

Chan-yeol

Praise and fiery heat. Park Chan-yeol is a member of the boy group Exo. He possesses a baritone singing voice. In the summer of 2024 the artist released his debut EP Black Out. Save

Baek-hyun

Baaek, white, with hyun, virtuous. Byun Baek-hyun was been labeled as the “Genius Idol”.

Yo-seob

Yo-seob is the Korean Joseph, “God will increase”. Genesis 30:24 says: ”She named him Joseph, and said, “May the Lord add to me another son.”

Do-young

Do-young is ”the way of the flower.”

Yo-han

A form of John, common in Christian families. John 1:8 says: “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John…. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.”

Korean boy names that sound English:

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation
Ian	benefit and peace	EE-ahn, like Ian
Ju-an	pillar of peace	JOO-ahn, close to Juan
Jae	talent	JAY
Si-an	”poem of peace”	SEE-ahn, close to Sean
Dan	sincere red	DAHN
Rion	varies by hanja	REE-ohn, close to Leon
Yoel	”Yahweh is God.”	YOH-el, like Joel
Tae	great	TAY
Shi-on	Zion	SHEE-ohn, like Sion
Rae	one who comes	RAY
Aaron	root disputed	AH-ron
Yu-an	abundant peace	YOO-ahn, close to Ewan
Seon	goodness	SUN, close to Sean
Gun	”to build”	GUN or GUHN
Jin	truth	JIN

Scroll for more.

Gi-hun

Seong Gi-hun (”foundation” and ”merit”) is player 456 in Squid Game.

Sang-wook

Mutual and rising sun 상욱.

Woo-bin

Help and refinement. Kim Hyun-joong began his career as a runway model and also starred in the film Friend: The Great Legacy. He was the first East Asian model for Calvin Klein Watches + Jewelry.

Jun-pyo

Gu Jun-pyo (”talent” and ”mark”) led the F4 in the drama Boys Over Flowers.

Tae-oh

Tae stands for great (Tae is written with only one hanja) and oh means ”cherished.”

Woo

“Universe.” Woo may be written with either of two hanja.

Jae-hoon

Wealth with merit. Jae-hoon also means “talented and meritorious”.

Dae-ho

Great and vast/great hero

Sung-woo

Pronounced as Seong-woo or Sang-woo, it means “accomplished with divine help” as 成祐 or “sacred universe” 聖宇.

Yi-han

It is made of Yi 理 (“reason”_ and Han 한 (”great”).

Myung-jin

Also spelled as Myeong-jin, it is meaning “clear and precious.”

Rae-won

Kim Rae-won (b. in 1981) starred in The First Responders and A Thousand Days’ Promise. It is meaning ”origin that comes.”

Kang-min

Strength and cleverness.

Dae-Jung

Dae-Jung was the former South Korean president Kim Dae-Jung. He passed away at the age of 85 on 18 August 2009. Dae means ”great” and jong is ”to be born.” So, Dae-jung means a great center.

Ma-ru

“Top of a mountain.”

Jung-hwan

Jung (”steadfastness”) and hwan (”sturdy pillar”). Ahn Jung-hwan (currently retired) scored the golden goal that knocked Italy out of the World Cup. He finished the tournament with two goals in seven appearances.

Hyun-woo

”Divine intervention.” In 1988 Hyun-woo was the #3 name in Korea.

Sungkyu

”Precious.”

Ji

Ji is symbolizing “wisdom.” In 2000, almost 150k Koreans had this family name. There are 46 hanja with the reading ji.

Si-won

”Source of poetry.”

Korean boy names that are easy to pronounce:

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation
Na-mu	tree	NAH-moo
Si-yun	poem with a sheen	SHEE-yoon
Da-on	”all good things come”	dah-OHN
Mu-jin	endless	MOO-jin
Ji-o	varies by hanja	JEE-oh
Ju-ho	pillar of the sky	JOO-ho
I-ru	to achieve	EE-roo
Min-woo	clever helper	MIN-oo
Ha-on	great warmth	hah-OHN
Dong-ho	eastern lake	DONG-ho
Ha-yul	”summer rhythm.”	HAH-yool
Yu-ho	abundant sky	YOO-ho
Ji-u	wisdom and help	JEE-oo
Hee-jun	bright talent	HEE-joon
Ho-jin	vast treasure	HO-jin

Even more below.

Ye-chan

Art and praise.

Hyun-bin

Virtue and refinement.

Tae-hoon

Tae (태) is great while Hoon (훈) is meritorious deed. Kim Tae-hoon played in An Ethics Lesson and When Winter Screams.

Kyung-min

celebratory brilliance/respectful wisdom/bright as the capital/auspiciously quick-witted

Hyun-joon

”Virtue with talent.”

Seong-ho

Seong-ho is made of accomplishment and vast sky.

Dae-hyun

”Great virtue.”

Chan-wook

Praise (chan) and with a refined quality (wook). In 2022 Park Chan-wook was the recipient of Best Director at Cannes for Decision to Leave.

Seung-gi

”Victory” and ”foundation.”

Chang-min

Chang (prosper) and min (people).

Jung-kook

BTS member Jeon Jung-kook (”upright nation”) sang at the opening ceremony of the World Cup in Qatar.

Tae-hyung

Great and prosperous.

Do-jun

Way with talent.

Ji-yong

Ji-yong is ”will of the dragon.”

Ra-on

Ra is fruit and on translates as ”warm table.” RAON is also a South Korean particle physics laboratory.

Woo-hyun

Help and virtue.

Yong

Dragon.

Min-gyu

Min-gyu is ”quick” and ”jade tablet.”

Haemosu

Haemosu is the son of heaven in Goguryeo myth who rides a chariot that is pulled by five dragons.

Hae-il

Sea with the sun.

Tae-joon

”Exalted excellence” or ”great and talented.” Tae means big or great and Joon is interpreted as handsome or talented.

Jeong

”Quiet and loyal.” Choi Jeong is a professional Go player who dominated women’s Go from 2014 to 2024. Kang Jeong published his first poetry collection at the age of 26.

Nu-ri

”The universe” or ”the world.”

Pu-Reum

Fresh or blue-green.

Chin-hwa

”Most wealthy.”

Korain

”One who is luminous and glorious.” It is very rare and so rare that most Koreans actually never heard of it.

Duri

”Two” in the Gyeongsang dialect of South Korea. Cha Du-ri is a former footballer who played for Bayer Leverkusen and Mainz 05.

Jae-beom

Wealth and a model to follow.

Jun

Talent.

Gaesomun

Yeon Gaesomun held off the armies of the Tang emperor.

Won-bin

Won-bin is symbolizing ”origin and refined.”

Ah-in

Ah-in combines a (elegant) with in (benevolent).

Jun-ki

”Talent” and ”foundation.” Lee Jun-ki starred in the film The King and the Clown.

Bo-geom

”Treasured sword.”

Mun-deok

General Eulji Mun-deok (“literary virtue”) drowned the majority of a Sui army at the Salsu River. He sent a poem to Sui general Yu Zhongwen: ” You win every battle, your military merit is great; Why then not be content and stop the war?”

Seon-ho

Goodness with a vast sky.

Dae-seok

”Great and rock.” Seok can be written with either of two hanja.

Jin-woo

Jin (”truth”) and woo (”universe”).

Tae-hwan

Park Tae-hwan (태환 grand joy) has allegedly faced many financial difficulties. KSF refused to give him his 50 million won for winning two silver medals in the London Olympics.

Jung-jae

Jung means “to govern” or “upright” while Jae “to preside” or “to be present.” Lee Jung-jae won the Emmy for Lead Actor in a Drama Series,

Chae-hyun

Chae is symbolizing “colorful” while Hyun is “virtuous.”

READ MORE: 40 Sanskrit Baby Boy Names

U-Jin

“Universe” and “genuine.”

Si-woo

Kim Si-woo won the 2017 Players Championship at age 21. Si is symbolizing poetry or a beginning while woo a house or the universe.

Sang-hyun

Mutual and virtuous.

Dong-gun

Dong-gun is ”eastern foundation.”

Jeong-jo

Jeong-jo (“righteous ancestor”) is the king who finished the Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon.

Kwang-min

Kwang-min is ”light” and ”quick.”

Seok-hoon

Stone with merit.

Wook

Wook is pronounced as “ook” and means “sunrise.”

Seung-Jae

“Victory” or “to succeed” combined with ”wealth.” Lee Seung-jae competed in two events at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Ga-ram

”River.”

Sejong

Sejong (“epochal ancestor”) created the Hangul alphabet in 1443. Its hanja 世宗 has roots in 世, world, and 宗, ancestor. In the preface of Hunminjeongeum, the king wrote: “Because the speech of this country is different from that of China, it does not match the [Chinese] letters.”

Dong-hyun

Dong, east, with hyun, virtuous.

Chul

I like Chul due to its resemblance to the English word ”chill.” In Korean Chul is ”iron.”

Min-ho

”Cleverness” or ”bravery.” In 1980 it was the 9th-most popular name in South Korea. Minho Moon is a character in the series XO, Kitty. Another entertainer is Jang Min-ho.

Editor’s Pick: Biblical Boy Names

Bon-Hwa

‘Utmost glory, most glorious.’

Joon-ho

Bong Joon-ho directed the film Parasite that won four Academy Awards in 2020. Joon means ”talented” or ”handsome” and ho is ”a vast sky.”

Hyeon

”Virtuous and worthy.”

Kwang-soo

Kwang is light and soo (洙) river.

Dak-Ho

”Deep lake.”

Tae-Seok

”Great stone.”

Kang-ho

Song Kang-ho was the first Korean man to win Best Actor at Cannes for Broker. Kang is ”strength” and ho ”tiger” or ”something vast.”

Min-jun

“Clever and talented.”

Seo-jun

Seo is ”auspicious” or ”composed” and jun ”gifted.” It is pronounced as SUH-joon.

Ha-joon

Summer or greatness (ha) is combined with talent (joon).

Jae-won

Jae (wealth) and won (origin).

Ho-rang

Ho-rang is a short form of horangi, tiger.

Sun-sin

Admiral Yi Sun-sin (“devout spirit”) is known for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Imjin War. He died from a gunshot wound in the Battle of Noryang.

Min-seok

Min-seok is ”jade and stone” or ”sharp rock.”

Woo-jin

oo-jin and means true universe/divine jewel/to advance friend

Do-yoon

Do means a path or the way and yoon is to shine or to permit. I know that many families take it as a child who walks a bright road.

Do-hyun

The path element do returns here combined with hyun (”virtuous” or ”worthy”).

Ji-ho

Wisdom (ji) and brightness or vastness (ho).

Heung-min

In 2022 Son Heung-min won the Premier League Golden Boot with 23 goals and was the first Asian player to top that chart. Heung means ”prosper” or ”rise” and min ”bright” or ”clever.”

Se-dol

“World’s stone”.

Byung-hun

”Brightness” or ”glory” (byung) and ”merit” (hun). Lee Byung-hun rocketed to fame for his role in Storm Shadow in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

Kyung-soo

Kyung (”celebration” and soo (”excellence”).

Min-jae

Kim Min-jae (born in 1996) was appointed as an ambassador for the Purme Foundation. He is the first Asian named Serie A’s best defender. Min (”quick” or ”clever”) and jae (”talent” or ”ability”).

Nam-joon

In 2018 RM of BTS, born Kim Nam-joon, addressed the United Nations General Assembly with his Speak Yourself speech. Nam is the south, joon is talent.

Sang-ho

A noble or esteemed sense is the meaning of sang and a wide sky for ho.

Ba-da

”The sea.”

Woo-shik

Choi Woo-shik played the son in Parasite that won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2019. Woo is ”the universe” or ”a house” and shik ”steady growth.”

Hyun-jin

Ryu Hyun-jin is the only player in Korean baseball history to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in a single season. Hyun is ”virtuous” or ”wise” and jin ”precious” or ”to shine.”

Eun-woo

Grace or kindness (eun) combined with the universe (woo). It is pronounced EUN-woo.

Ha-neul

”Spread your dreams high like the sky”.

Sol

Sol is the Korean word for a pine tree.

Han-sol

”One tall pine.”

Ha-ru

Haru is the native word for ”one day” or ”day.”

Cheol-woo

Cheol is ”wise” or ”sage” and woo is ”protection” or ”divine help.”

Seong-gye

Seong (“to accomplish”) and gye (”cinnamon tree”).

Woong

Its character, 雄, means heroic and grand.

Seong-jin

It (“succeeded and progressed”) is pronounced as SUHNG-jin. Cho Seong-jin won the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw.

Mi-reu

Mi-reu is an archaic native word for dragon.

Jun-seo

Jun-seo (JOON-suh) combines jun (준 talent) with seo (서 auspicious).

Hyuk

”Shining brightly.”

Gyu-min

Jade tablet and cleverness.

Yu-jun

abundant talent/to have model

Hwarang

”Flowering youth.”

Gil-dong

Gil-dong (“lucky boy”) comes from Hong Gil-dong, the outlaw hero of a 17th-century novel.

Yun-ho

Yun (윤 to allow) with ho (호 vast).

Chan-ho

Chan-ho is ”praise” and ”vast sky.”

Seung-woo

Victory with help.

Han

Han is a single syllable for great, or one.

Tae-min

Great with quick.

Jun-seong

Here, a popular Korean choice and a cheerful meaning of “capable and abundant.”

Han-gyeol

Something that never changes.

Seon-woo

Seon (goodness) with woo (help).

Jumong

Jumong was the founder of Goguryeo, and means “skilled archer”.

Jun-woo

Talent and help.

Ji-hwan

”Wisdom” and ”brightness.”

Sae-byeok

Sae-byeok is the native word for the hour before sunrise.

Seung-hyun

Victory and wise. It is also menaing worthy to win.

Jun-young

Talent and the flower of youth.

Gwanggaeto

Gwanggaeto is ”one who broadly expanded the land.”

Seung-min

Victory and cleverness.

Wonhyo

Wonhyo (“daybreak”) was a Silla monk who influenced Buddhism in other East Asian nations. His harmonization methodology is found in almost all his works.

Sung-min

Sung-min is symbolizing ”accomplished and quick.”

Si-hyun

Poetry and virtue or start dazzling.

Bin

Refined and elegant.

Jong-hyun

Jong-hyun is made of jong, a temple bell, and hyun, virtuous.

Jae-min

Jae-min is meaning ”clever ability.”

Dong-hyuk

East with shine.

Han-bit

”Great light.”

Dangun

Dangun (“mountain-birch ruler”) is the mythical founder of Gojoseon in 2333 BC.

Sang-woo

Sang (mutual) with woo (help).

Tae-yang

”Supreme light.”

Hyeokgeose

”One who rules the world with light.” Bak Hyeokgeose founded Silla.

Jun-hyuk

”Talented and brilliant.”

Yeon-woo

Yeon (to extend) and woo (help), and works for boys and girls.

Hoon

Merit earned via deeds.

Young-ho

Young-ho is symbolizing eternal and vast/brave tiger

Kyu-hyun

Kyu, a jade tablet, and hyun, virtue.

Ba-reun

Upright and correct.

Hwan

”Bright.”

In-ho

Benevolence and a wide sky.

Sung-hoon

”Accomplished merit.”

Onjo

Onjo (“warmth and throne”) was the son of Jumong. He founded the kingdom of Baekje.

Jae-sung

Wealth with accomplishment.

Hyun-sik

”Virtuous growth.”

Gyebaek

Gyebaek (“high-ranking lord”) was the Baekje general who made a last stand with 5,000 men against an army of 50,000 at Hwangsanbeol.

Seul-chan

Sul, 슬 wisdom, and chan, 찬 full.

Dong-wook

East with the rising sun.

Soo-hyun

Excellence and virtue/wise longevity

Jin-young

Jin-young is ”True flower.”

Ho

Vast sky.

Ro-woon

Ro-woon has become popular for boys and is symbolizing “path of grace”.

Jae-wook

Wealth and rising sun.

Hae-jin

“Sea and truth”.

Yong-ho

Yong, dragon, with ho, vast.

Yu-sin

Kim Yu-sin (“abundant belief or preserving trust”) was the great-grandchild of King Guhae of Geumgwan Gaya. He and his clan were called “Kim/Gold.”

Ho-jun

”Vast talent.”

Il-woo

Il, one, and woo, help.

Myung-soo

”Bright excellence.”

Yak-yong

Scholar Jeong Yak-yong (”eternal”) designed a crane to lift stones.

Yu-chan

Abundant with praise.

Gam-chan

General Gang Gam-chan (”broad assistance” or praise/support) crushed a Khitan army at Gwiju.

Jung-woo

Upright and help.

Gyeol

Grain of wood or the texture of a thing.

Eun-ho

Eun-ho means ”grace with a vast sky” or “silver lake.”

Seo-jin

”Auspicious treasure.”

Hwi

Radiance.

Ju-won

Ju-won is made of ju (pillar) and won (origin).

Ha-min

”Summer” and ”clever.”

Cheoyong

Cheoyong (“forgiving countenance”) is the son of the Dragon King in Silla legend.