Korean name generator
Ten names per click, every one built the way Korean names are actually built: a real surname from the 2015 census and a two-syllable given name with its Hangul and meaning. Filter by style, meaning theme, surname rarity and whether the given name uses Hanja or pure Korean. Made for writers, gamers, and anyone choosing a Korean name.
How the generator works
Surnames come from the census: “common” draws from the 40 most frequent surnames (Kim, Lee, Park, Jung, Choi…), “uncommon / rare” from the 70 surnames with between 1,000 and 100,000 holders (Seol, Tae, Ki, Bin, Namgung, Hwangbo…), and “any” from both. Given names are drawn from a pool of real Korean names sorted by theme and style; each shows its Hanja meaning, or is marked pure Korean if it is a native word like Ha-neul (sky) or Byeol (star). Every surname links to its own page with clans, population and pronunciation.
Rules the generator follows (and you should too)
- Surname first. Kim Ha-eun, never Ha-eun Kim, in Korean order.
- One-syllable surname, two-syllable given name. Three beats total — the Korean norm.
- No repeated syllables. Ha Ha-eun and Min Min-jun sound comic.
- Rhythm. A closed surname (Kang, Han, Shin) pairs best with a vowel-initial given name (Eun-woo, Ye-jun); an open surname (Seo, Ha, Cho) with a consonant-initial one (Ji-woo, Min-jun).
- Watch for words. Kim Chi, Ban Ana and Go Gil are the classic accidents.
Naming characters
For a period drama, use a rare or two-syllable surname (Namgung, Dokgo, Seonu) and a Hanja given name with a virtue meaning — it reads as old family. For a contemporary heroine, a soft surname (Seo, Yoo, Ha) with a top-ten given name (Seo-yeon, Ha-eun, Ji-woo). For a villain, hard consonants: Kwon, Kang, Baek, with a one-syllable given name for extra coldness (Kwon Hyuk). Avoid giving a fictional character the surname of a real ultra-rare family; stick to surnames with at least a few thousand holders. See our lists of surnames for girls, surnames for boys and rare surnames.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make a Korean name?
Choose a one-syllable surname (or two-syllable for rare ones), then a two-syllable given name whose Hanja meanings you like. Write the surname first. The generator above does this automatically with real census surnames and real given names.
Are the generated names real Korean names?
Yes. Every surname is from the 2015 census and every given name is one Koreans actually use, with its standard Hangul and Hanja meaning.
Can I generate a Korean last name only?
Yes — the surname in each result links to its own page. For a full list of surnames sorted by rarity see the complete list of Korean last names.
What is a good Korean name for a character?
Match the sound to the role: soft surnames (Seo, Yoo, Ha) for gentle characters, hard ones (Kwon, Kang, Baek) for strong or cold ones, rare two-syllable surnames (Namgung, Dokgo) for old or mysterious families.