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Write Your Name in Korean: Hangul & Romanization

If you want to learn Korean, you’ll also want to learn how to write your name in Korean.

So, if you want to know how to change your name to Korean, we have made it simple. This page is your one-stop guide to Korean names and includes a FREE Korean name converter!

Free Korean Name Converter

Your name in Korean
Enter a first name or surname to see how native speakers write and pronounce your name
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Your name will appear here in Hangul and Romanization.
Writing your name...

This name converter translates your name into Korean Hangul based on its pronunciation. Feel free to share this page with your friends as well.

Table of Contents

  1. Essential Rules for Writing Your Name in Korean
  2. Some Korean Names Sound Like English Names
  3. Pick out a Korean Name for Yourself, Surname and All!
  4. How Are Korean Names Written?
  5. Frequently Asked Questions About Korean Names
  6. Related Lessons

1. Essential Rules for Writing Your Name in Korean

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A. Each Syllable Should Have One Consonant and One Vowel at Least.

One common mistake that we see people making while trying to figure out how to write their name in Korean is that they try to write their names according to the way it is spelled. But actually, you need to write it according to how your name is pronounced. Find Korean pronunciation that sounds similar to your actual name.

Let’s take the name Jane for example. If you try to romanize it in Korean as it is spelled (which would be ‘ja-ne’), it would be sound like ‘자-네’, which really doesn’t sound anything like ‘Jane’.

Here, you may fall into your first dilemma. Korean words must consist of a consonant and vowel sound. However, some names contains only a consonant sound. In this case, just add the Korean vowel ‘ㅡ
(eu)‘. For example, Chris sounds like ‘kris’ so it would become ‘크리스 (keu-ri-seu)’ by adding ‘eu’ to ‘k’ and ‘s’.

Chris sounds like Kris. It’s K + ri + s.
Add ㅡ (eu) to a consonant that doesn’t have a vowel sound.
It becomes Keu + ri + seu, which is 크리스 in Korean.

This rule also applies to names that contains a syllable that starts with ‘t’. For example, if you want to write the name Trina in Korean, just add ‘eu’ to the ‘t’ sound and you will get ‘트리나 (teu-ri-na)’.

Trina is T + ri + na.
Add ㅡ (eu) to a consonant that doesn’t have a vowel sound.
It becomes Teu + ri + na, which is 트리나 in Korean.

B. An ‘R’ at the End of the Syllable is Silent.

Now, you may have noticed that the ‘r’ sound at the end of ‘Trevor (트레버)’ does not show up in the Korean equivalent. This is because you do not need to add the consonant ‘ㄹ’ at the end of the syllable if it ends with ‘r’. Some say that this is because there are not so many hangul names with the batchim ‘ㄹ’ at the end. Others say that this is due to the rules set by the National Institute of Korean Language, which designates that borrowed words (외래어) and names be written in a certain way to avoid confusion.

No matter what the reason, remember not to add the batchim ‘ㄹ’ if the syllable ends with ‘r’. Here are some examples of names that should apply this rule:

  • The name Peter will be romanized as pi-teo and written in Korean as ‘피터 (pi-teo)’, not ‘피털’.
  • Alexander will be romanized as a-lek-san-deo and written as ‘알렉산더 (alreksandeo)’, not ‘알렉산덜’

C. An ‘H’ at the End of the Syllable is Silent.

If your name ends with an ‘h’, it will become silent.

  • Example: Hannah will be written as ‘한나 (hanna)’, not ‘한낳’.

D. A ‘SH’ at the End of the Syllable Can be Either ‘시’ or ‘쉬’.

Other tricky names to write in Korean would be those that end with ‘sh’. In this case, you could use either ‘시 (si)’ or ‘쉬
(swi)’. For example:

  • Josh could be written as ‘조시 (josi)’ or ‘조쉬 (joswi)’

E. A ‘P’ or an ‘PH’ at the End of the Syllable Can be Either ‘ㅂ’ or ‘프’.

If your name ends with a ‘p’ or ‘ph’, you can use either the batchim ‘ㅂ’ or ‘프’, depending on your preference.

  • For example, the name Joseph is more commonly written as ‘조셉 (josep)’ in Korean, but you will also see people writing it as ‘조세프 (josepeu)’.
  • Another example would be Phillip, ‘필립 (pillip)’, which is even used as a native Korean name. But you could write it as ‘필리프 (pillipeu)’. (Again, ‘필립’ is used more commonly.)

F. A ‘T’ at the End of the Syllable Can be Either ‘ㅅ’ or ‘트’.

Names that have a syllable that ends with ‘t’ can be written as either ‘ㅅ’ or ‘트’. For example:

  • Scott could be written as ‘스콧 (seukot)’ or ‘스코트 (seukoteu)’
  • Matt could be written as ‘맷 (maet)’ or ‘매트 (maeteu)’

G. ‘F’ is Pronounced as ‘P (ㅍ)’.

There is no ‘f’ sound in Korean, so names that start with ‘f’ will be written using the consonant ‘ㅍ’ , along with names that start with ‘p’. For example:

  • Felicity will be written in Korean as ‘펠리시티 (pellisiti)’
  • Pamela will be written in Korean as ‘파멜라 (pamella)’

H. ‘V’ is Pronounced as ‘B (ㅂ)’.

There is no ‘v’ sound in Korean, so syllables that start with ‘v’ will be written using the consonant ‘ㅂ’ , along with names that have ‘b’. For example:

  • Vanessa will be written in Korean as ‘바네사 (banesa)’.
  • Becky will be written in Korean as ‘베키 (beki)’.
  • Steve will be written in Korean as ‘스티브 (seutibeu)’.

I. ‘Z’ is Pronounced as ‘J (ㅈ)’.

Names that start with ‘j’ or ‘z’ will be written using the consonant ‘ㅈ’. For example:

  • Joe will be written in Korean as ‘조 (jo)’.
  • Jack and Zack will both be written in Korean as ‘잭 (jaek)’.

J. ‘One L + Vowel’ in the middle of the name Becomes ‘ㄹ + ㄹ + Vowel’.

One ‘l’ that comes before a vowel in the middle of the name often becomes ㄹ + ㄹ + vowel. For example:

  • Julia will be written in Korean as ‘줄리아 (jullia)’.
  • Nicolas will be written in Korean as ‘니콜라스 (nikollaseu)’.

But if ‘l’ comes at the beginning of the name, it doesn’t change to ㄹ + ㄹ. ‘Lena’ is just ‘레나 (rena)’. If there are two Ls in the middle of the name, write it as it is. You don’t need to add more ㄹ sounds. For that reason, both Gabriella and Gabriela are 가브리엘라.

K. A ‘K’ at the End of the Syllable Can be Either ‘ㄱ’ or ‘크’.

If the pronunciation of the name syllable ends with ‘k’, it’s ‘ㄱ’ or ‘크’ but ‘ㄱ’is more common. For example:

  • Patrick will be written in Korean as ‘패트릭 (paeteurik)’.
  • Eric will be written in Korean as ‘에릭 (erik)’.

2. Some Korean Names Sound Like English Names

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Some Korean Names Sound Like English Names!

We’ve gone through the basics of writing your name in Korean. However, if you’re feeling slightly lazy, don’t worry! There are some Korean names that sound exactly like names in English that you could use as your own, without worrying about how to write the consonants and vowels.

Here are some names that you can choose from–can you find your name on the list?

A. Female Names

  • 제인 (Je-In): Jane
  • 조안 (Jo-An): Joanne
  • 미나 (Mi-Na): Mina
  • 사라 (Sa-Ra): Sara
  • 한나 (Han-Na): Hannah
  • 하나 (Ha-Na): Hana
  • 진희 (Jin-Hui): Jeanie
  • 아라 (A-Ra): Ara
  • 진 (Jin): Jean (can be used as a male name)

B. Male Names

  • 제이 (Je-I): Jay
  • 태빈 (Tea-Bin): Tevin
  • 이안 (I-An): Ian
  • 유진 (Yu-Jin): Eugene
  • 노아 (No-A): Noah
  • 필립 (Pil-Lip): Phillip
  • 진 (Jin): Jean (can also be used as a female name)

3. Pick out a Korean Name for Yourself, Surname and All!

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Pick out a Korean Name!

Now if you really want a Korean sounding name, one fun way to do so would be to use popular Korean names. It will definitely be a great ice breaker if you do have a ‘Korean’ name.

A. Make One Using Your Birthday.

Try using your birthday to come up with a Korean name—here is a fun chart that you could use to come up with a name for yourself (and you can tell everyone that you came up with your name based on your date of birth and year!)

Korean Name Generator

For example, if you’re female and your birthday is September 1st, 1996, your full name would be 최진희 (Choe Jin-Hui).

최진희
Surname: 최 (Choe)
Given Name: 진희 (Jin-Hui)

If you’re male with the same birthday above, September 1st, 1996, it’d be 최진훈 (Choe Jin-Hun).

최진훈
Surname: 최 (Choe)
Given Name: 진훈 (Jin-Hun)

B. Pick One from the List of the Most Popular Names.

If you’d like to use a popular Korean name as your own, you can find the list of the most popular names for 2017 below.
Girl Boy
1. 하윤 (Ha-Yun) 도윤 (Do-Yun)
2. 지우 (Ji-Wu) 예준 (Ye-Jun)
3. 하린 (Ha-Rin) 주원 (Ju-Won)
4. 수아 (Su-A) 유준 (Yu-Jun)
5. 지아 (Ji-A) 지호 (Ji-Ho)
6. 서아 (Seo-A) 준우 (Jun-U)
7. 서윤 (Seo-Yun) 하준 (Ha-Jun)
8. 서연 (Seo-Yeon) 서준 (Seo-Jun)
9. 하은 (Ha-Eun) 시우 (Si-U)
10. 지유 (Ji-Yu) 민준 (Min-Jun)
You can put these names together with a surname that you think will work for you. You can find some of the most common surnames in Korea.
Rank Surname Pronunciation Population
1. 김 (金) Gim 9,925,949
2. 이 (李) I 6,794,637
3. 박 (朴) Bak 3,895,121
4. 최 (崔) Choe 2,169,704
5. 정 (鄭) Jeong 2,010,117
6. 강 (姜) Gang 1,044,386
7. 조 (趙) Jo 984,913
8. 윤 (尹) Yun 948,600
9. 장 (張) Jang 919,339
10. 임 (林) Im 762,767

4. How Are Korean Names Written?

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How Korean Names are Written

There is a famous Korean saying in Korea regarding names:

호랑이는 죽어서 가죽을 남기고 사람은 죽어서 이름이 남긴다.
“A tiger will die and leave its skin, and a person will die and leave his name”.

This is one saying that epitomizes the importance of names to Koreans.

Although some parents will forego the meaningful Chinese characters and opt for a pure Hangul name, you will still commonly see many parents with newborns asking advice from elders or even going to ‘naming gurus’ to get the name that will bring ‘prosperity’ or ‘luck’ to their children. Some parents even take the time to give their children fetal names ‘태명’ before they are born!

Having said that, how is a Korean name written?

Unlike in English, where the ‘given’ name comes first and the ‘surname’ at the end, you will write your ‘surname/family name/last name (성)’, usually one character (there are some surnames with two characters), first, then your ‘given name/first name (이름), which is usually two characters). For example:

권지용
Surname: 권 (Gwon)
Given Name: 지용 (Ji-Yong)

As you can see, it is actually not difficult to write your name in Korean. The fastest method would be to check how your name is written officially in Korean. You could also look for a Korean name that sounds similar to yours, or even make up a ‘Korean’ name.

To see your name in Hangul, use the free Korean name converter above.

Thank you for reading. 감사합니다 –It’s thank you in Korean.

5. Frequently Asked Questions About Korean Names

How do I write my name in Korean?

Use the Korean name converter above to see your name written in Hangul, the Korean writing system, based on how your name sounds.

Is the Korean name converter free?

Yes. The converter is free for KoreanClass101 members. Create a Free Lifetime Account to see your Korean name.

Does the Korean name converter translate my name’s meaning?

No. It converts the pronunciation of your name into Korean writing rather than translating its meaning.

Where can I practice writing my name in Korean?

Practice writing Hangul with our free Korean worksheets.

How will my name be pronounced in Korean?

Your name is adapted to Korean sounds and syllable patterns. Learning Hangul will help you read the result aloud.

How do I say “My name is” in Korean?

You can say “제 이름은 [name]입니다” (Je ireumeun [name] imnida) to introduce yourself politely.

6. Related Lessons

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How to Write in Korean

In this video series, you will learn the Korean alphabet, known as Hangul. We will teach you Hangul using simple steps, showing you the correct stroke order, helpful tricks for memorization, and proper usage in common Korean words. If you want to get started reading and writing Korean, this is THE place to start.

Go to Hangul Series
Introduction to Korean

Want to learn Korean? Don’t know where to start? This is it. The Introduction to Korean Video series is perfect for those who know zero Korean but want to take that first step. In this series, you’ll learn all about the Korean language, as well as grammar, writing and phrases to get you started.

Go to Introduction Series
Korean Pronunciation Guide

Ready to sound like a native Korean speaker? Join Alisha and Ara in the Ultimate Korean Pronunciation Series! You’ll learn the ins and outs of perfect Korean pronunciation. You’ll learn the common mistakes learners make, how to avoid them, and the nuances that only native speakers are aware of.

Go to Pronunciation Guide
Korean in 3 Minutes

Learn the basics you need to be polite while speaking Korean. Amy will take you step-by-step through must-know phrases and explain the grammar and composition. Plus, you’ll get some special tips on how to be extra authentic when interacting with native Korean speakers.

Go to 3 Minute Series

11632 Comments
Please to leave a comment.
😄 😞 😳 😁 😒 😎 😠 😆 😅 😜 😉 😭 😇 😴 😮 😈 ❤️️ 👍

KoreanClass101.com Verified
Tuesday at 05:24 PM
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What's your name? Leave a comment. We'll write your name in the Korean alphabet 😄

KoreanClass101.com Verified
Wednesday at 09:43 AM
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안녕하세요, Lucy! 😄


Your name in Korean is 루시 (Rusi)!


Try the "Your name in Korean" feature at the top of this page! Enter your name and click "See My Name" to see its Korean spelling, romanization, and sentences you can use to introduce yourself.


Thank you for studying with us! Feel free to ask if you have any questions.


Team KoreanClass101.com

Lucy
Wednesday at 06:59 AM
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😜

KoreanClass101.com Verified
Monday at 04:15 PM
Your comment is awaiting moderation.

안녕하세요, Sofiia!


Your name in Korean is 소피아 (so-pi-a). 😄 Try the Korean name feature at the top of this page, too!


Thank you for studying with us! Let us know if you have any questions.


Team KoreanClass101.com

Sofiia
Monday at 03:40 AM
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My name is Sofiia and is pronounced the same way.

KoreanClass101.com Verified
Sunday at 05:17 PM
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Hi Margarethe! 안녕하세요! 😄


Your name can be written as 마르가레테 in Korean.

You can also try our "Your name in Korean" feature! Enter your name and click "See My Name" to see its Korean spelling and romanization.


Team KoreanClass101.com

Margarethe
Friday at 04:06 PM
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Hi

KoreanClass101.com Verified
Friday at 02:49 PM
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Hi Alan,


Thanks for explaining the pronunciation! 앨런 (Aelleon) is appropriate for your name. 애 approximates your first vowel, and 어 approximates the schwa, though the Korean sounds aren't exact matches.


Try entering "Alan" in the "Your name in Korean" feature and clicking "See My Name"!


감사합니다! (Thank you!)

Team KoreanClass101.com

KoreanClass101.com Verified
Friday at 02:49 PM
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Hi Diana,


Your name can be written as 다이애나 (Daiaena) if you pronounce it "dye-AN-uh"! If you say "dee-AH-na," 디아나 (Diana) would be closer.


Try the "Your name in Korean" feature on this page, and let us know if the result matches your pronunciation. 😊


감사합니다! (Thank you!)

Team KoreanClass101.com

Alan
Friday at 10:43 AM
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Alan


Seems easy, but the first "A" is the low frontal vowel, not really an "ah" sound. The second "A" is the schwa sound.

Diana
Friday at 05:56 AM
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I think my name is easy to spell Diana