The most common family names in South Korea are KIM (김), PARK (박), LEE (이), CHOI (최), CHUNG (정), with around half of all Koreans having one of these five names. While most Korean family names are one syllable, there are some exceptions (e.g. HWANGBO (황보), SEON-U (선우), DOKGO (독고), NAMGUNG (남궁).
The longest name ever recorded in South Korea is “Haneulbyeollimgureumhaennimbodasarangseureouri” which prompted a 1993 law that a given name can be no more than five syllables. Choi is a common Korean family name that can be traced back to the year 857.
Lee, I, or Yi (이) is the second-most-common surname in Korea, behind Kim (김). Historically, 李 was officially written as Ni (니) in Korea. The spelling officially changed to I (이) in 1933 when the initial sound rule (두음법칙) was established.
Moon, also spelled Mun, is a Korean family name, a single-syllable Korean given name, and an element in some two-syllable Korean given names.
Korean naming conventions arrange names as follows: [FAMILY NAME] [personal name]. For example, KIM Min Su (male) or LEE Hyori (female). Each Korean name usually consists of three syllables. The first is the family name while the second and third are the given name.
Overview. Most Korean baby names are unisex but can be modified with different characters or words to make them masculine or feminine. For example, Min is a unisex name. It becomes a male name as Min-ho, but it's a female name as Min-ji or Min-seo.
The name Boo originates from Jeju Island, where Seungkwan is from, and there are currently about 10,000 people with the last name in Korea.
A majority of Korean names consist of three characters – one for the family name and two for the given name. This uniformity of three-character names are deeply entrenched in Korean systems, in both public and private realms.
Today, South Koreans use Hanguk (한국, 韓國) to refer to just South Korea or Korea as a whole, Namhan (남한, 南韓; "South Han") for South Korea, and Bukhan (북한, 北韓; "North Han") for North Korea.
"Corea" is derived from the name of the ancient kingdom of Goryeo. Korea was transliterated as Cauli in The Travels of Marco Polo, of the Chinese 高麗 (MC: Kawlej, mod. Gāolì). This was the Hanja for the Korean kingdom of Goryeo (Korean: 고려; MR: Koryŏ), which ruled most of the Korean peninsula during the 12th century.
Aegiya (애기야) – “Baby”
The word 애기 (aegi) is a cute way of saying 아기 (agi), which means “baby. This Korean term is used as a sweet way of saying “baby”.
One of the two characters in a given name is unique to the individual, while the other is shared by all people in a family generation. In both North and South Koreas, generational names are usually no longer shared by cousins, but are still commonly shared by brothers and sisters.
The Encyclopedia Britannica states, “In the Silla kingdom (57 BCE–935 CE) — which variously battled and allied with other states on the Korean peninsula and ultimately unified most of Korea in 668 — Kim (which means 'gold') was the name of a family that rose to prominence and became the rulers of Silla for 700 years.”
Kim, Lee and Park were once again the top three. Kim, Lee and Park have traditionally been the most common surnames in Korea. Korean family names are typically one syllable in length, with a few exceptions.
Yeou This name means “fox” in Korean. It can be given to a boy or girl. Lomdi A name suited for girl or boy, Lomdi means “fox.” It has Hindu origins.
Moon is a gender-neutral name of Korean and Old-English origins that's sure to help baby feel one with the universe. The Moon affects so many elements of life, from the tides to the concept of time.
Areum: Meaning “beauty”. Cho: Meaning “beautiful”. Cho-Hee: Meaning “beautiful and happy”. Hwa-Young: Meaning “beautiful flower”.