Korean Baby Names

THE TRADITIONAL Korean system of naming is very old and based on clan genealogy. The family name dictates the length of a multigenerational cycle of names. To each child and paternal cousin of the same sex and generation, one of these names is added to another element, creating a unique, yet related, double name. In some families this element is given to all the children regardless of the sex of the child. Female names are generally indicative of nature, goodness, or "feminine" qualities of grace and beauty. Male names often take the themes of strength, wisdom, and prosperity. As families become smaller and people move to metropolitan areas or migrate abroad, the traditional way of naming with the genealogical name is becoming less common. In such instances, parents have been known to arbitrarily choose a favored name element and apply it to each of their children's names.