Write your name in Korean
Type any name and see how it is written in Hangul — the way a Korean newspaper, a K-drama subtitle or a Korean friend would write it. The converter knows the standard Korean spelling for over 500 common names and converts everything else phonetically.
First, the word itself: “name” in Korean
The Korean word for name is 이름 (ireum). “What is your name?” is 이름이 뭐예요? (ireumi mwoyeyo?), and the polite reply is 제 이름은 ___ 입니다 (je ireumeun ___ imnida, “my name is ___”). A family name specifically is 성 (seong) and a given name is 이름 as well — Koreans use the same word for the given name and the full name.
How names are written in Korean
Korean does not translate foreign names; it transcribes their sound into Hangul, syllable by syllable. Because Hangul is an alphabet, any name can be written — but Korean has a smaller set of sounds than English, so some letters change:
- F becomes P — Fiona is 피오나, Jennifer is 제니퍼.
- V becomes B — Victoria is 빅토리아, David is 데이비드.
- Z becomes J — Zoe is 조이, Elizabeth is 엘리자베스.
- TH becomes S (or D) — Thomas is 토마스, Matthew is 매튜, Ruth is 루스.
- R and L merge into one sound written ㄹ — Laura and Rory both start with ㄹ.
- Every syllable needs a vowel, so consonant clusters get an 으 (eu) inserted: Smith is 스미스, Chris is 크리스, Steve is 스티브.
- Short “a” becomes 애 in English names — Sam is 샘, Jack is 잭, Anderson is 앤더슨 — while names from other languages keep 아: Fatima 파티마, Sara 사라.
The official rules are the Loanword Orthography (외래어 표기법) of the National Institute of Korean Language, and the standard spellings of well-known names are fixed by usage — Michael is always 마이클, never 마이켈. For unfamiliar names the converter applies the same rules phonetically, which is what a Korean would do on first hearing your name.
Want an actual Korean name instead?
Transcribing your name is what appears on a Korean visa or bank card. If you want a name that is Korean — a surname plus a two-syllable given name with Hanja meaning — try the What is my Korean name generator, or browse Korean surnames to understand how the family-name half works.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write your name in Korean?
Korean transcribes the sound of a name into Hangul syllables rather than translating it. Olivia becomes 올리비아, John becomes 존, Sarah becomes 사라. Use the converter above for any name.
How do you say “my name is” in Korean?
제 이름은 ___ 입니다 (je ireumeun ___ imnida) is the polite form; 저는 ___ 이에요/예요 (jeoneun ___ ieyo/yeyo) is friendlier. Use 이에요 after a name ending in a consonant and 예요 after a vowel.
Can every name be written in Korean?
Yes — Hangul is an alphabet, so any sound sequence can be approximated. Sounds Korean lacks (F, V, Z, TH, R/L distinction) are replaced by the nearest Korean sound.
Is my name in Korean the same as a Korean name?
No. Writing “Emily” as 에밀리 gives you your own name in Korean letters. A Korean name has a Korean surname and a given name with Hanja meaning, which is a different thing.