Korean

Compiled by Clinton R. Nixon

Korean names are constructed as family name then given name. Family names are passed down through a male lineage, but women do not change their names when married, except outside of Korea.

45% of all South Koreans have the family name of Kim, Park, or Lee. The distribution of names is not nearly as heterogeneous as in many other cultures. In fact, there are only about 250 family names total. Because of this distribution, the above chart is made so that one could easily roll 4d6-4 on the common family name chart to get a name, with Kim being the most common result. (Rolling a zero would send you to the rare family names chart.)

Romanization of Korean names is not standardized in any way. The names above are more or less phonetically correct, but common romanizations are put beside the names where appropriate, such as “Lee” for “Yi,” which is actually pronounced in Korean as “E.” North Koreans tend to use a “r” sound for “n” or “l,” which provides “Rhee,” “Ryu,” and “Roh” above.

Each family name is composed of three to six clans, with each clan being a historical topographical origin of that name. Up until recently, it was illegal to marry someone of your same clan. This is still discouraged by traditionalists, as all clan members share a slight blood tie. Incest is one of the most heinous and unthinkable of all crimes in Korean culture.

Common Surnames

  1. Lim
  2. Moon
  3. Shin
  4. Ahn (alternately: An)
  5. Choi
  6. Oh
  7. Hwang
  8. Chong (alternately: Chung, Jung)
  9. Yi (alternately: Lee, (DPRK) Rhee)
  10. Kim
  11. Pak (alternately: Park)
  12. Hong
  13. Kang
  14. Chun
  15. Yoo (alternately: (DPRK) Ryu)
  16. Noh (alternately, (DPRK) Roh)
  17. Yang
  18. Han
  19. Song
  20. Oak

Rare Surnames

  1. Kyo
  2. Nan
  3. Dongbang
  4. Mangjeol
  5. Bi
  6. Sobong
  7. Ae
  8. Ogum
  9. Hu
  10. Po
  11. Tan
  12. Jeup
  13. Janggok
  14. Woon
  15. Namgung
  16. Bi
  17. Myo
  18. Nu
  19. Gwok
  20. Hu

Ancient Surnames

These are taken from early Korean history, with a pretty wide range of years. They are in no way an actual representation of a particular time period, but would work well for a fantastic Korean historical setting.

  1. Bae
  2. Choe
  3. Jeong
  4. Son
  5. Seol
  6. An
  7. Cha
  8. Han
  9. Hong
  10. Kim
  11. Kwon
  12. Nam
  13. Eo
  14. Wang
  15. Yeon
  16. Goi
  17. Gojong
  18. Gongsun
  19. Danggun
  20. Dae

Notes on Given Names

Korean given names have many rules behind them. The most important is that one syllable of a typical two-syllable name is carried throughout a family. For example, a father and his two sons and one of their sons might be Kim Du Ho, Kim Ho Jin, Kim Dak Ho, and Kim Kwang Ho. Whether the syllable is used as the first or second syllable does not particularly matter.

Male

  1. Haneul
  2. Iseul
  3. Jin Ho
  4. Joo Chan
  5. Jung Hun
  6. Chang Uk
  7. Du Ho
  8. Jong Pil
  9. Min Kyu
  10. Kwang Ho
  11. Suk Chul
  12. Young Su
  13. In Ho
  14. Bon Hwa
  15. Chul
  16. Hyun-Ki
  17. Hyun-Shik
  18. Young Sam
  19. Dak Ho
  20. Chul Moo

Female

  1. Kyung Soon
  2. Iseul
  3. Haneul
  4. Joo Eun
  5. Bo Bae
  6. Eun Young
  7. Sun Hee
  8. Mi Young
  9. Mi Sun
  10. Min Hee
  11. Hyun Ja
  12. Eun Ju
  13. Jong Hui
  14. Son Yong
  15. Min
  16. Yon
  17. Hyun Ja
  18. Hye Su
  19. Kyoung Mi
  20. Na Young