When naming children in Korea, the practices have greatly changed over the years. Korean names are rising in popularity because of the explosion of K-Pop and K-Dramas. Many parents are opting for more modern Korean baby names for boys and girls. Let’s learn more about Korean culture and the different baby name choices parents have when choosing a Korean name for their son.
Naming History of Korean Names
An older tradition in Korean culture that isn’t used as often today when choosing Korean names is hiring a professional to choose the name of your baby or leaving it up to the child’s grandfather. Many people still use a professional but it is becoming less and less common. You can find a lot of information about traditional naming practices here. Korean-given names are usually written using Chinese characters called “hanja,” but this is no longer the case in North Korea. The “hanja” chosen must be included in a very restricted list. If not, it must be approved by the family registry. Hanja is based on Chinese characters and often names were ultimately selected based on the Chinese zodiac. However, the actual naming process is similar to choosing a girl’s name. The family name, followed by a given name, used to be the typical structure. The given name was chosen based on its meaning. Many parents nowadays are veering away from using the surname as part of their name and opting for a single-syllable name instead. Of course, this varies on preference.
How Korean Names are Written
- The Korean family name or surname in Korea is the first syllable.
- The generational name in Korea is typically the second syllable. Generational names are the father’s or head of the family’s name and is shared by all members of the same generation of an extended family in South Korea.
- The third syllable in a Korean name is the first name or the unique name and is chosen by the child’s parents.
Cute Korean Names for Boys
Below are Korean boy names that are popular, unique, single syllable names, and combinations. There are plenty of options to choose from for your little one. We’ve included the name meaning in English for these Korean male names to help you choose.
Korean Names for Boys that Start with A to D
Korean Names for Boys that Start with E to J
Korean Names for Boys that Start with K to P
Korean Names for Boys that Start with S to Z
For more baby boy name inspiration check out these popular baby name lists:
75 Cute Korean Girl Names with Meanings Top 1000 Most Popular Baby Boy Names in the U.S. Top 1000 Most Popular Baby Girl Names in the U.S.
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