From ‘Kuma’ to ‘Comme des’: How K-pop stars name their pets
BLACKPINK’s Jennie appears with her dog Kuma on the YouTube channel Bodeum TV by Kang Hyung-wook. Captured from Bodeum TV YouTube channel
Just like people, pets are often given names rich with meaning. When a new baby is born, parents choose names that reflect hopes for health, happiness and good fortune. Similarly, pet owners — especially celebrities — carefully consider how to name the furry family members they’ll spend a lifetime with. From lookalikes and nicknames to favorite foods and luxury brands, the naming process is anything but random.
One of the simplest yet most endearing naming methods is based on resemblance. BLACKPINK’s Jennie named her dog “Kuma” because the dog looked like a bear. “Kuma” means “bear” in Japanese, and Jennie said the name came to her the moment she saw her pet’s fluffy brown fur. Fans who saw Kuma often joked, “Is that a raccoon or a bear?” Kuma even has a tuft of white fur on the chest, adding to the bear-like charm.
BLACKPINK’s Rosé with her dog Hank / Captured from Instagram @hank_says_hank
Fellow BLACKPINK member Rosé took a different route, naming her dog “Hank” after actor Tom Hanks — whom she insists the dog resembles. “The more you look at him, the more he looks like Tom Hanks,” she once said.
Seventeen's Hoshi with his dog Latte / Captured from Instagram @kwon.latte_
Some idols name their pets based on fur color. Seventeen’s Hoshi named his dog “Latte” after its soft brown gradient fur, which reminded him of a warm cafe latte. In winter, when Latte buries its face in snow, fans affectionately call it “Iced Latte.”
Stray Kids’ Lee Know and his cats / Captured from Instagram @realstraykids
In homes with multiple pets, naming conventions sometimes follow a shared syllable. Stray Kids’ Lee Know, who has three cats, named them Soonie, Doongie and Dori — all ending with a similar “-ie” sound. Fans call the trio “Soon-doong-dori” as a playful nickname. Soonie was adopted from an animal hospital in 2011, Doongie from a friend in 2013 and Dori from a stray animal shelter in 2018. Even after his debut, Lee Know continues to support animal rights, wearing polar bear protection merchandise and donating to animal welfare causes.
Actress Jun Hyo-sung, formerly of girl group Secret, with her cats / Captured from Instagram @bling_darling_jelling
Actress Jun Hyo-sung, formerly of girl group Secret, is also a devoted multi-cat owner. On her YouTube channel JHS and on Instagram, she frequently shares glimpses of life with her cats. Their names — Bling, Darling and Jelling — all share the suffix “-ling.” Jelling, the youngest, was adopted in 2021 after being rescued as a stray. Fans voted on the name from options like “Healing,” “Loving” and “Jelling.” For three years, Jelling kept a distance from both humans and the other cats. It wasn’t until recently that she approached Jun while she slept — a moment that touched the hearts of many followers.
SHINee’s Key wears a Comme des Garçons T-shirt while posing with his dogs. Captured from Instagram @bumkeyk
SHINee’s Key gave his two poodles the fashionable names “Comme des” and “Garçons,” inspired by the Japanese clothing brand Comme des Garçons. Known for its iconic red-heart-with-eyes logo, the brand’s name stuck after Key tried calling his dogs other names like Saint Laurent or Louis Vuitton, which didn’t feel right. “Comme des” has a bold, vocal personality, while “Garçons” is calm but assertive — making the names a perfect fit for their personalities.
Other celebrities have also given their pets meaningful or fun names: Actor Seo Kang-joon used the syllable “Ki” for all his pets: Oki, Doki and Kiki. Apink’s Chorong named her cats Brie and Rico, inspired by cheese. Singer Yubin named her dog “Kongbin,” a play on her own name. Actor Hong Jong-hyun’s pet is named “Hongjin,” echoing his family name.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.