Korean Names

Korean names consist of a family name followed by a given name. Most Korean given names are comprised of two syllables, though some only have one.

The three most common family names in Korea are 김 (Kim), 이 (Yi, often written as Lee), and 박 (Park). Together, these three names account for around 45% of the population.

Family name groups are divided by patrilineal decent into branches or clans. (There are about 280 such branches of Kim). Until recently, it was illegal for people of the same branch to marry, no matter how distantly related. Branches are usually identified by a place name where the clan is said to have originated, such as ‘Kyeongju Kim’.

Common Korean family names:

김 Kim	이 Yi	박 Park	최 Choi	정 Jeong	조 Jo	장 Jang
윤 Yoon	신 Shin	한 Han	홍 Hong	유 Yoo	강 Kang	송 Song

Below are the top five baby names for boys and girls in 2006, often used in television dramas :

남자 (Male)	민준 Minjun	민재 Minjae	지훈 Jihun	현우 Hyeon Woo	준서 Junseo
여자 (Female)	서연 Seoyeon	민서 Minseo	수빈 Subin	서현 Seohyeon	민지 Minji

The following are common names in 1975 and 1945 respectively. Note that the female names from 1945 end with ‘ja’, equivalent to the ‘ko’ common in Japanese female names. This reflects the Japanese colonial period, which ended in that year :

1975	남자 (Male)	정훈 Jeonghun	성호 Seonghoo	성훈 Seonghun
	여자 (Female)	미영 Miyeong	은정 Eunjeong	은주 Eunjoo

1945	남자 (Male)	영수 Yeongsoo	영호 Yeongho	영식 Yeongshik
	여자 (Female)	영자 Yeongja	정자 Jeongja	순자 Sunja

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