Difference between revisions of "Korean names"

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m (Common Family Names (in Order of Frequency))
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Whereas Western names often consist of three parts (a first name, a middle name, and a last name), Korean names have two parts: a given name and a family name. These two parts are arranged with the family name appearing first and the given name second.
 
Whereas Western names often consist of three parts (a first name, a middle name, and a last name), Korean names have two parts: a given name and a family name. These two parts are arranged with the family name appearing first and the given name second.
 
* '''Formula:''' ''(Family Name)'' + ''(Given Name)'' = ''(Full Name)''
 
* '''Formula:''' ''(Family Name)'' + ''(Given Name)'' = ''(Full Name)''
** '''민수''' + '''''' = '''이민수'''
+
** '''''' + '''민수''' = '''이민수'''
*** 민수 = Given name, = Family name
+
*** = Family name, 민수 = Given name
** '''준하''' + '''''' = '''노준하'''
+
** '''''' + '''준하''' = '''노준하'''
*** 준하 = Given name, 노 = Family name
+
*** 노 = Family name, 준하 = Given name
 
+
When both the given and family names are counted together, there are usually three syllables. The given name often holds two of these syllables while the family name holds the other. Exceptions to this commonly follow the opposite form, where the family name holds two syllables and the given name holds the final one.
+
 
+
  
 +
When both the given and family names are counted together, there are usually three syllables. The family name often holds one syllable while the given name holds the other two syllables. There also exists two-syllable family name. Given name is sometimes one syllable or more than two syllables.
  
 
==Romanization==
 
==Romanization==
 
When Korean names are [[Romanization|Romanized]], three forms are usually held, all of which place the family name after the given name, following the Western order:
 
When Korean names are [[Romanization|Romanized]], three forms are usually held, all of which place the family name after the given name, following the Western order:
* '''The syllables of the given name are separated with a dash.''' It is quite common in this form for the separated syllable to have no capitalized letter.
+
* '''The syllables of the given name are conjoined.''' This is the most common method.
** 이민수 = Min-su Lee
+
** 이민수 = Lee Minsu
** 노준하 = Joon-ha No
+
** 노준하 = No Junha
* '''The syllables of both the given name and the family name are separated with spaces.''' The syllables separated with this method each hold a beginning capital letter. In cases where the family name consists of multiple syllables, this method will not be used, as its formation can be confusing.
+
* '''The syllables of the given name are separated with a dash.''' People use this form to emphasize that two parts are separated syllables. The second syllable of given name is not capitalized.  
 +
** 이민수 = Lee Min-su  
 +
** 노준하 = No Jun-ha  
 +
 
 +
The above two methods are standardized Romanization of Korean names established by the National Institute of the Korean Language. But this standard format is not obeyed. Some people reverse the order of family name and given name, capitalize second syllable of given name or separate two syllables of given name as follows.
 +
 
 +
* '''The syllables of both the given name and the family name are separated with spaces.''' The syllables separated with this method each hold a beginning capital letter. But the second syllable of given name is often considered as middle name, so it is omitted or initialized. To prevent this problem, this format is not recommended.
 
** 이민수 = Min Su Lee
 
** 이민수 = Min Su Lee
** 노준하 = Joon Ha No
+
** 노준하 = Jun Ha No
* '''The syllables of the given name are conjoined.''' This order can be reckless when pronunciation is necessary, especially with the rules of modern English phonetics. However, in cases where pronunciation remains clear, this may be preferred over other methods.
+
** 이민수 = Minsu Lee
+
** 노준하 = Joonha No
+
 
+
  
  
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*수진, 수정
 
*수진, 수정
 
*슬기
 
*슬기
*예림, 예원, 예지, 예진,  
+
*예림, 예원, 예지, 예진,
 
*은경, 은선, 은영, 은정, 은주, 은지, 은혜
 
*은경, 은선, 은영, 은정, 은주, 은지, 은혜
 
*유경, 유나, 유리, 유진
 
*유경, 유나, 유리, 유진
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===Male Names===
 
===Male Names===
In alphabetic order:
+
In Korean alphabetic order:
 
*도현
 
*도현
 
*동현
 
*동현
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*정민, 정우, 정호, 정훈
 
*정민, 정우, 정호, 정훈
 
*지석, 지훈
 
*지석, 지훈
*진석, 진수, 진우, 진호  
+
*진석, 진수, 진우, 진호
 
*태석, 태준
 
*태석, 태준
 
*현수, 현준, 현철
 
*현수, 현준, 현철
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===Unisex Names===
 
===Unisex Names===
In alphabetic order:
+
In Korean alphabetic order:
 
*경진
 
*경진
 
*민서
 
*민서

Revision as of 22:31, 29 July 2011

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Structure and Arrangement

Whereas Western names often consist of three parts (a first name, a middle name, and a last name), Korean names have two parts: a given name and a family name. These two parts are arranged with the family name appearing first and the given name second.

  • Formula: (Family Name) + (Given Name) = (Full Name)
    • + 민수 = 이민수
      • 이 = Family name, 민수 = Given name
    • + 준하 = 노준하
      • 노 = Family name, 준하 = Given name

When both the given and family names are counted together, there are usually three syllables. The family name often holds one syllable while the given name holds the other two syllables. There also exists two-syllable family name. Given name is sometimes one syllable or more than two syllables.

Romanization

When Korean names are Romanized, three forms are usually held, all of which place the family name after the given name, following the Western order:

  • The syllables of the given name are conjoined. This is the most common method.
    • 이민수 = Lee Minsu
    • 노준하 = No Junha
  • The syllables of the given name are separated with a dash. People use this form to emphasize that two parts are separated syllables. The second syllable of given name is not capitalized.
    • 이민수 = Lee Min-su
    • 노준하 = No Jun-ha

The above two methods are standardized Romanization of Korean names established by the National Institute of the Korean Language. But this standard format is not obeyed. Some people reverse the order of family name and given name, capitalize second syllable of given name or separate two syllables of given name as follows.

  • The syllables of both the given name and the family name are separated with spaces. The syllables separated with this method each hold a beginning capital letter. But the second syllable of given name is often considered as middle name, so it is omitted or initialized. To prevent this problem, this format is not recommended.
    • 이민수 = Min Su Lee
    • 노준하 = Jun Ha No


Common Family Names (in Order of Frequency)

김, 이, 박, 최, 정, 강, 조, 윤, 장, 임, 한, 신, 오, 서, 권, 황, 송, 안, 유, 홍, 전, 고, 문, 손, 양, 배, 백, 초, 허, 남, 심, 유, 노

Common Given Names

Female Names

In alphabetic order:

  • 다빈
  • 미경, 미나, 미선, 미영, 미정, 미현
  • 민선, 민정, 민진, 민지
  • 서연, 서현, 서영
  • 소영, 소현
  • 수진, 수정
  • 슬기
  • 예림, 예원, 예지, 예진,
  • 은경, 은선, 은영, 은정, 은주, 은지, 은혜
  • 유경, 유나, 유리, 유진
  • 정은, 정희
  • 지민, 지선, 지연, 지영, 지은, 지현, 지혜
  • 한별
  • 현영, 현정, 현주, 현지, 현희
  • 혜선, 혜영, 혜정, 혜진
  • 효정

Male Names

In Korean alphabetic order:

  • 도현
  • 동현
  • 명철, 명호
  • 민석, 민성, 민수, 민우, 민재, 민준, 민호
  • 상현, 상훈
  • 성준, 성진, 성호, 성훈
  • 승민, 승준
  • 영준, 영호
  • 인석, 인호
  • 재민, 재석, 재호
  • 준서, 준성, 준석, 준수, 준영, 준혁, 준형, 준호
  • 정민, 정우, 정호, 정훈
  • 지석, 지훈
  • 진석, 진수, 진우, 진호
  • 태석, 태준
  • 현수, 현준, 현철
  • 효석, 효준
  • 현석, 현수, 현우, 현호

Unisex Names

In Korean alphabetic order:

  • 경진
  • 민서
  • 성민
  • 세진
  • 수민, 수빈
  • 영진
  • 정민, 정원, 정윤, 정현
  • 주현
  • 지원, 지수
  • 태희
  • 하늘
  • 한솔
  • 현진
  • 희원


See Also

Explanations and Opinions