Pick a real Korean given name by starting from either the sound or the meaning of your own name. Then choose a style, check that it fits your age, and say it aloud. Avoid joke names and names borrowed from famous people.
Most people want one of two things. Decide which before you browse.
Sound: you want a name that feels close to your own. A name that starts with the same syllable, or has a similar rhythm, is easy to remember and easy to answer to. Hannah, for example, sits close to 하나 (Ha-na), a real Korean name.
Meaning: you want a name that carries what your own name means, or a quality you care about. Someone named Grace might look at 은혜 (Eun-hye), which is written with 은 (恩, grace) + 혜 (惠, kindness).
A third option is a feeling instead of either. You might want something calm, bright, strong or warm. Starting from a feeling often gives better results than forcing a sound match, because many English sounds have no natural Korean twin.
Korean given names come from two sources, and knowing the difference helps you choose.
Hanja-based names are written with Chinese-origin characters. The same Hangul can mean different things depending on the characters. 지우 (Ji-u) could be 지 (智, wisdom) + 우 (宇, universe), but other characters are also used. So never trust a list that gives one fixed meaning for a Hangul name. Ask which characters are used.
Native Korean names, called sunurimal, come from Korean words. 하늘 (Ha-neul) is the word for sky. 나래 (Na-rae) means wings. 한결 (Han-gyeol) means steady. These have one clear meaning and no Hanja.
Both kinds are normal. Native names are often easier for a beginner to explain, because the meaning is just a Korean word.
Korean names lean feminine, masculine or neutral, though the line is not strict. Choose the style you want to be addressed in.
Native nature words such as sky, river or pine are often good neutral choices. Still, a name can lean one way in practice, so check how it is used before you commit.
Korean names go in and out of fashion by generation. A name that sounds fresh for a child can feel odd on a fifty-year-old, and the reverse is also true.
Two names to avoid are 철수 (Cheol-su) and 영희 (Yeong-hui). They are old-fashioned, and Korean textbooks use them as stock example names. Using one is a bit like introducing yourself as John Doe.
If you are unsure, choose a name that is steady across ages. Names built from common, plain characters, like 민준 (Min-jun) for a man, are easy to carry at many ages. For a younger person, a native name such as 나래 (Na-rae) reads as light and modern. If you can, ask a Korean friend of a similar age whether the name feels right for you.
Also say the name out loud. If you cannot pronounce it comfortably, you will not use it.
Many Korean speakers are pleased and curious when a foreigner takes a Korean name. The first question is usually about the meaning, and often which Hanja you use. Have a one-line answer ready, such as "It means sky" or "It's wisdom and universe."
Expect some friendly correction on pronunciation. Take it well. Reactions vary by person, and a name used with respect usually lands well. Using it carefully matters more than having a rare one.
It also helps to know that a Korean full name has a family name first, then a given name of usually two syllables. This guide covers the given name only.
Korean Name Studio chooses a name for you. You give your name, a style (feminine, masculine or gender-neutral) and a feeling. You receive three real Korean given names by email within minutes: two Hanja-based and one pure Korean (sunurimal). Each comes with its meaning, Hanja, pronunciation and brush calligraphy on a private web page.
It is a one-time purchase with no subscription, and it can be sent as a gift. The site also has free pages showing Korean names for common English names.
Meanings of Hanja-based names depend on the characters a family chooses; the ones shown are common choices.
Tell us your name and the feeling you want. You get three real Korean names (two Hanja-based, one pure Korean) with meanings, pronunciation and brush calligraphy, on your own page.
Get my Korean nameBoth are real and common. A native name like 하늘 (Ha-neul) has a clear meaning, while a Hanja name lets you pick specific characters. Choose the one whose meaning you like.
You can write it in Hangul, but that is a spelling of your name, not a Korean name. A Korean name is a given name Koreans really use, with its own meaning.
That is your choice, and this guide covers only the given name. If you want a full name, ask a Korean friend which family name and given name pair sounds natural.
The free pages on this site list Korean name ideas for common English names, from Emma to Hazel. They are a good place to start before you decide.
Published 2026-11-13 by Korean Name Studio.