From tradition to trend: How Korean names are changing

Winter of K-pop girl group aespa poses for reporters, Oct. 16, 2025. Xportsnews

Have you ever wondered why some of your favorite K-pop idols don't use their real names? Before debuting, idols are often given the option to choose a stage name. This is not only to distinguish themselves from other idols who may share the same Korean name, but also to appeal to international fans by using names that are easier for global audiences to pronounce.

A prominent example is Winter of K-pop girl group aespa, whose real name is Kim Min-jeong. On a radio show, Winter shared that her agency, SM Entertainment, presented her with several stage name options, such as Baekseul, Young Won and Moa. Ultimately, she chose Winter because it best matched her image, while also taking into account her birthday during the coldest season. The name also helped her stand out in the competitive K-pop industry, giving her a catchy, globally appealing moniker.

Winter's choice of name is in line with a broader shift in naming practices that extend beyond the entertainment industry. Many Koreans today are increasingly drawn to names that reflect shifting trends and lifestyles in an era of globalization.

What's in a name?

A name is often the first gift parents give their child, mirroring the generation in which the child is born. When scrolling through class rosters, celebrity news or online baby name lists, it becomes clear that the names chosen today differ from those of previous generations.

In Korea, naming practices have evolved along with the culture. Traditional Korean naming conventions, the meaning behind names and modern influences all play a role in how parents choose names today.

Korean given names usually consist of two syllables, which combined with the family name, form a three-syllable full name. Unlike many Western naming conventions, Korean names put the family first, followed by the given name. For example, instead of saying "Eun-woo Cha," Koreans would say "Cha Eun-woo." Personal names with just one syllable or more than two syllables exist, but they are not as common. Likewise, some family names are more than one syllable.

Koreans do not have "middle" names. The given name is the individual’s full personal name.

How parents used to name their children

Naming a child has carried deep cultural and symbolic meaning throughout Korean history.

Many Korean names were created using hanja (Chinese characters), with each character selected for its specific meaning. Although official records still allow the use of hanja, many people use only the Hangeul spelling. Some common examples include "Yong," meaning dragon, and "Mi", meaning beauty. These meanings were believed to influence a child’s character and destiny.

While they also have a long history, names using that don't draw on Chinese characters, but instead use native Korean words, have grown in popularity. Names such as "Areum" (beauty) and "Sarang" (love) reflect this linguistic and cultural shift.

A couple getting their fortune told / Courtesy of Korea Easy Travel

Fortune tellers, naming traditions

The streets of Hongdae and Myeong-dong in Seoul are lined with "saju" stalls, where people can have their fortunes told. While many people visit them simply for fun or curiosity, some parents go with a more crucial purpose in mind, hoping to choose an auspicious name for their offspring.

Traditionally, many parents relied on fortune tellers when choosing their children’s names. Saju, a traditional Korean fortune-telling system rooted in Chinese metaphysics, analyzes a person’s birth year, month, day and hour (known as the “four pillars”) to offer insights into a person's future, relationships, character and luck. Since names are believed to influence a child’s future, some people work with fortune tellers to select names they hope will lead to success and counter any weaknesses or bad luck.

Generational characters

In the past, when large extended families were common, shared names helped identify generational hierarchy within a clan. These characters were not chosen by parents but were predetermined by family lineage and incorporated in the names chosen for all children born in a particular generation.

Generational names allowed relatives who were often spread across different regions to easily recognize whether someone belonged to an older or younger generation, helping maintain social order within complex family structures.

In modern Korea, generational characters are often viewed as restrictive. As the importance of clan identity and genealogy has weakened, the need for shared generational characters has diminished.

While the use of generational hanja characters has decreased in recent years, it is still common for siblings to share one syllable in their given names. These may appear as either the first or second syllable. For example, siblings might be named Ji-yeon and Ji-min, using the same "Ji" to mark their relationship.

Changes in society

Generational character names were historically seldom extended to girls, further limiting the character names' relevance. Nowadays, most Koreans no longer use them. Another reason for their decline is the limits they place on naming choices, since the required character significantly narrows the range of possible names.

As society evolved and multigenerational households became less common, the importance of maintaining strict naming hierarchies also faded.

Jennie / Courtesy of OA Entertainment

Modern approaches to naming children

Although traditions like generational character names and consulting fortune tellers are still practiced by some families, contemporary Korean society has embraced new trends. As international marriages have become more common, parents often select names that can comfortably exist across multiple cultures. Moreover, with increasing globalization and international mobility, many parents choose names that are easy to romanize and pronounce abroad. For example, BLACKPINK’s Jennie has an English name as her legal name.

Parents also consider phonetic harmony and syllabic balance, making sure the name sounds pleasing. As the family name comes first, harmony between the family name and the first syllable of the given name is important.

Some people are inspired by their personal interests, naming their children for people they admire or celebrities. Parents also try to avoid names that might sound like words with negative connotations in order to avoid bullying.

Popularity also plays a role. Based on data from the Electronic Family Relationship Registration System, names featuring the “s” sound, such as Seo-yun, Seo-a and I-seo, were especially favored in 2025.

This shift in names became even more apparent with the "Kancho challenge," which gained significant popularity among young Koreans last year.

BTS member Jung Kook reads out a few names out of the 500 names stamped on Kancho Choco Biscuits in a livestream / Courtesy of Weverse

BTS member Jung Kook and other K-pop idols brought the "Kancho challenge" to a global audience, searching for their own names during live broadcasts. Kancho, a Korean snack, celebrated its 40th anniversary with a "find my name" challenge, printing 500 of the most common Korean names from 2008 to 2025 on their cookies.

However, Jung Kook couldn't find his name in the box of biscuits, as his name was not included in the list. Like him, many other Koreans who had more unique names were disappointed.

While Korean naming practices have changed through the years, what remains constant is the deep significance and thought that goes into creating people's names.

Names serve as a powerful connection between past, present and future. In Korea, naming practices reflect centuries of tradition while continuously adapting to social change, globalization and individual expression. As society evolves, so too do the names we give — preserving heritage while embracing new identities.

Kim Sur-hyun is a Korea Times intern.