Tools
Korean name generator by five elements
Enter a birth date — or pick an element — and get two-syllable Korean given names whose hanja supply the element your chart is short on, the way Korean naming masters have chosen characters for generations.
Name style:
Enter a birth date, or simply pick an element, and this page works out which of the five elements your Saju chart is short on. It then suggests two-syllable Korean given names whose hanja, the Chinese characters used in Korean names, carry that element. Korean naming masters call this 자원오행 (jawon ohaeng), "five elements by character origin", and it has shaped Korean names for generations.
It is for fun and for learning, not a certified naming service. A naming master weighs far more than one method, and a name is finally a matter of taste and family. Use the results as a starting point: a way to meet Korean names, learn what their characters mean, and see how the five elements run through them.
How a Korean name is built
A Korean name is usually three syllables: a one-syllable surname followed by a two-syllable given name, written surname first. Each syllable of the given name is traditionally a hanja, a Chinese character chosen for its sound and its meaning at the same time, so 지호 (Ji-ho) might pair 智, wisdom, with 浩, vast.
The hanja must come from the list of characters the Supreme Court of Korea allows in personal names (인명용 한자), which now runs to more than 8,000 characters. Not every name uses them, though: many modern names are pure Korean words such as 하늘 (sky) or 슬기 (wisdom) and are registered in hangul alone.
What jawon ohaeng means
Each hanja is assigned to one of the five elements by its radical (부수), the root component that hints at what the character is about. Characters built on tree, grass or grain radicals count as Wood; fire, sun or heart radicals as Fire; earth, mountain, field or roof radicals as Earth; metal, jade, knife or shell radicals as Metal; and water, rain or ice radicals as Water.
A naming master reads the client's Saju chart, finds the element that is missing or weakest, and chooses characters that supply it. Professional naming also weighs the stroke counts of the characters (수리 성명학) and the element of each syllable's sound (발음오행). This page uses the radical method only, so treat its suggestions as one lens among several.
Which element you need
The simplest classical rule looks at the eight characters of your chart, two each for the year, month, day and hour, and counts how many belong to each element. The element with none, or with the fewest, is the one your name can supply. Enter a birth date and the tool does the count for you; if you already know your answer, pick an element directly.
A second rule starts from the Day Master, the heavenly stem of your day pillar, which stands for you. When the Day Master is weak, the name should supply the element that feeds it: Water feeds Wood, Wood feeds Fire, Fire feeds Earth, Earth feeds Metal, and Metal feeds Water. When the two rules point to different elements, the tool shows both so you can compare.
Reading the results
Each suggestion is romanized with Revised Romanization, the official system used on road signs and in textbooks, with common passport-style spellings in brackets. So you will see Seo-yeon and Ji-ho, but also 영 Yeong, often spelled Young; 수 Su, often Soo; and 희 Hui, often Hee. Either spelling is fine in everyday use, and many Koreans keep the passport form for life.
The hyphen between the two syllables is optional: Seo-yeon, Seoyeon and Seo Yeon all appear on real documents, though the hyphen makes the syllable break clear to English readers. Koreans write and say the surname first, so a girl named 서연 in the Kim family is 김서연, Kim Seo-yeon. Abroad, many people flip the order to match local habit.
Which radicals count as which element
The tool sorts every character by the customary table below. Characters whose radical is disputed between schools (the person radical 亻, for instance) are left out rather than guessed, which is why a few very common name hanja do not appear.
- Wood — 木 tree, 艹 grass, 禾 grain, 竹 bamboo, 糸 silk, 衣 clothing, 米 rice, 弓 bow, 手 hand, 目 eye, 大 big, 巾 cloth, 靑 blue-green, 門 gate, 乙 second stem
- Fire — 火 fire, 灬 fire dots, 日 sun, 心 heart, 忄 heart, 赤 red, 彳 step, 彡 brush strokes, 馬 horse, 羽 feather
- Earth — 土 earth, 山 mountain, 田 field, 阝 mound / town, 宀 roof, 广 shelter, 厂 cliff, 里 village, 女 woman, 囗 enclosure, 辶 walk, 止 stop, 至 arrive, 龍 dragon, 足 foot, 生 life, 廴 stride, 羊 sheep
- Metal — 金 metal, 玉 / 王 jade, 刀 / 刂 knife, 貝 shell (money), 白 white, 車 cart, 言 speech, 戈 spear, 矢 arrow, 酉 wine jar, 革 leather
- Water — 水 / 氵 water, 雨 rain, 冫 ice, 口 mouth, 魚 fish, 巛 river, 食 food
Saying the names
- eo is the "u" in "sun", so Seo-yeon starts like "suh"; ae is the "e" in "bed", as in Tae-yang; eu is a tight "oo" made with the lips flat rather than rounded, a sound English lacks, so Eun-woo is nearer to "un-woo" than to "yoon-woo".
- Final consonants are not released: the k that ends Min-seok and the p that ends Sang-yeop stop in the mouth without the puff of air English adds, so do not tack a vowel on after them.
- An initial ㄹ, written r, sits between English r and l: in Ryu or Ra-on the tongue taps lightly just behind the top teeth. A doubled ㄹㄹ, as in Seol-li, is a plain l.
The twenty most common surnames
About half of all Koreans share the first five. Add one above to see how a full name reads.
| Surname | Hangul · hanja | Meaning of the character |
|---|---|---|
| Kim (Gim) | 김 金 | gold, metal |
| Lee (I) | 이 李 | plum tree |
| Park (Bak) | 박 朴 | simple, unadorned; magnolia |
| Choi (Choe) | 최 崔 | lofty, high |
| Jung (Jeong) | 정 鄭 | name of an ancient state |
| Kang (Gang) | 강 姜 | ginger; an ancient clan |
| Cho (Jo) | 조 趙 | an ancient state |
| Yoon (Yun) | 윤 尹 | to govern |
| Jang | 장 張 | to stretch, to spread |
| Lim (Im) | 임 林 | forest |
| Han | 한 韓 | name of Korea; an ancient state |
| Oh (O) | 오 吳 | an ancient state |
| Seo | 서 徐 | slowly, calm |
| Shin (Sin) | 신 申 | to state; the Monkey branch |
| Kwon (Gwon) | 권 權 | authority |
| Hwang | 황 黃 | yellow |
| Ahn (An) | 안 安 | peace |
| Song | 송 宋 | an ancient dynasty |
| Ryu | 류 柳 | willow |
| Hong | 홍 洪 | vast flood |
Browse the name syllables by element
Every syllable and hanja the generator draws from — 70 syllables, 646 characters, each with its meaning and the radical that gives it its element.
Wood names — 146 hanja
- 서 Seo (usually first)
栖 to nest, to settle (木 tree) - 연 Yeon (either position)
蓮 lotus (艹 grass) · 練 refined, practised (糸 silk) - 지 Ji (either position)
芝 lingzhi, sacred herb (艹 grass) · 枝 branch (木 tree) · 芷 angelica herb (艹 grass) - 현 Hyeon / Hyun (either position)
弦 bowstring; crescent (弓 bow) · 絃 string of an instrument (糸 silk) - 민 Min (either position)
苠 grass stalk (艹 grass) - 하 Ha (usually first)
荷 lotus (艹 grass) - 은 Eun (either position)
檼 ridgepole, support (木 tree) - 아 A / Ah (either position)
芽 sprout (艹 grass) · 莪 fragrant herb (艹 grass) - 도 Do (usually first)
桃 peach (木 tree) · 稻 rice plant (禾 grain) - 유 Yu / Yoo (either position)
裕 abundance, ease (衣 clothing) · 柔 gentle, soft (木 tree) · 楢 oak (木 tree) - 재 Jae (either position)
材 talent, timber (木 tree) · 栽 to plant, cultivate (木 tree) · 梓 catalpa; homeland (木 tree) - 영 Yeong / Young (either position)
榮 glory, flourishing (木 tree) · 英 flower; hero (艹 grass) · 楹 pillar (木 tree) - 수 Su / Soo (either position)
秀 outstanding (禾 grain) · 樹 tree, to establish (木 tree) · 穗 ear of grain (禾 grain) · 粹 pure (米 rice) · 綏 peaceful (糸 silk) - 진 Jin (either position)
榛 hazel (木 tree) · 眞 true, genuine (目 eye) · 振 to rouse, to shake (手 hand) · 秦 the Qin state (禾 grain) · 蓁 lush (艹 grass) - 소 So (usually first)
素 plain, pure (糸 silk) · 笑 smile (竹 bamboo) · 蘇 to revive (艹 grass) · 紹 to continue, introduce (糸 silk) - 예 Ye (either position)
藝 art, skill (艹 grass) · 芮 small, budding (艹 grass) · 芸 rue herb; talent (艹 grass) · 蘂 stamen (艹 grass) · 睿 wise, far-sighted (目 eye) - 린 Rin (usually second)
藺 rush plant (艹 grass) · 橉 tree name (木 tree) - 율 Yul (usually second)
栗 chestnut (木 tree) - 온 On (either position)
穩 calm, steady (禾 grain) · 榲 tree name (木 tree) - 가 Ga (usually first)
柯 branch, axe handle (木 tree) · 稼 to sow (禾 grain) · 葭 reed (艹 grass) - 나 Na (either position)
梛 tree name (木 tree) - 라 Ra (either position)
蘿 vine, ivy (艹 grass) - 리 Ri (either position)
梨 pear (木 tree) · 莉 jasmine (艹 grass) · 李 plum (木 tree) - 시 Si / Shi (usually first)
柴 firewood, brushwood (木 tree) · 蒔 to plant seedlings (艹 grass) - 안 An / Ahn (usually second)
桉 eucalyptus (木 tree) - 승 Seung (usually first)
承 to inherit, carry on (手 hand) · 繩 rope; a rule (糸 silk) - 정 Jeong / Jung (either position)
靜 calm, still (靑 blue-green) · 靖 peaceful (靑 blue-green) · 程 path, measure (禾 grain) · 楨 hardwood; pillar (木 tree) · 精 essence, refined (米 rice) · 挺 outstanding (手 hand) - 채 Chae (usually first)
綵 coloured silk (糸 silk) · 菜 greens (艹 grass) · 蔡 an ancient state (艹 grass) · 棌 oak (木 tree) - 해 Hae (usually first)
楷 model, standard (木 tree) - 혜 Hye (either position)
蕙 orchid (艹 grass) - 희 Hui / Hee (either position)
希 hope, rare (巾 cloth) · 稀 rare, precious (禾 grain) - 훈 Hun / Hoon (usually second)
薰 fragrant herb (艹 grass) · 纁 sunset pink silk (糸 silk) - 환 Hwan (usually second)
桓 pillar; mighty (木 tree) · 紈 fine white silk (糸 silk) - 규 Gyu / Kyu (either position)
葵 sunflower, hollyhock (艹 grass) · 槻 zelkova (木 tree) · 揆 to measure, plan (手 hand) · 奎 a star mansion; scholar (大 big) - 경 Gyeong / Kyung (either position)
耕 to plough (耒 plough) · 經 classic; to pass through (糸 silk) · 檠 lamp stand (木 tree) - 건 Geon / Gun (either position)
楗 door bar; key (木 tree) · 乾 heaven; creative (乙 second stem) - 결 Gyeol (usually second)
結 to bind, bear fruit (糸 silk) - 강 Gang / Kang (usually first)
綱 mainstay, principle (糸 silk) · 杠 flagpole (木 tree) · 橿 evergreen oak (木 tree) · 強 strong (弓 bow) · 彊 strong (弓 bow) - 원 Won (either position)
苑 park, garden (艹 grass) · 楥 tree name (木 tree) · 援 to help (手 hand) · 薗 garden (艹 grass) - 석 Seok / Suk (either position)
析 to analyse (木 tree) · 席 seat, mat (巾 cloth) - 용 Yong (either position)
榕 banyan (木 tree) · 蓉 lotus, hibiscus (艹 grass) - 혁 Hyeok / Hyuk (either position)
奕 great, radiant (大 big) - 찬 Chan (either position)
粲 bright, polished (米 rice) · 纘 to continue (糸 silk) · 撰 to compose (手 hand) - 한 Han (either position)
閑 leisurely, elegant (門 gate) · 閒 calm (門 gate) · 橌 great tree (木 tree) - 범 Beom / Bum (either position)
範 model, pattern (竹 bamboo) · 帆 sail (巾 cloth) · 梵 Sanskrit; pure (木 tree) · 范 a surname; grass (艹 grass) · 凡 all, ordinary (几 table) · 笵 rule (竹 bamboo) - 빈 Bin (usually second)
檳 betel palm (木 tree) · 繽 colourful abundance (糸 silk) · 斌 refined and strong (文 pattern) - 미 Mi (either position)
薇 rose (艹 grass) · 眉 eyebrow (目 eye) · 彌 wide, lasting (弓 bow) - 주 Ju / Joo (either position)
柱 pillar (木 tree) · 株 tree trunk, stock (木 tree) · 朱 vermilion red (木 tree) · 奏 to play music, present (大 big) · 紬 pongee silk (糸 silk) - 이 I / Yi (either position)
荑 young shoots (艹 grass) · 苡 Job's tears (a grain) (艹 grass) - 인 In (either position)
引 to lead, to draw (弓 bow) · 茵 soft mat of grass (艹 grass) · 絪 vital energy (糸 silk) - 화 Hwa (either position)
花 flower (艹 grass) · 華 splendid, flourishing (艹 grass) · 禾 grain (禾 grain) · 樺 birch (木 tree) - 향 Hyang (usually second)
香 fragrance (香 fragrance (grain)) - 선 Seon / Sun (either position)
線 line, thread (糸 silk) - 오 O / Oh (usually second)
梧 paulownia (木 tree) · 奧 profound (大 big) - 양 Yang (usually second)
楊 willow (木 tree) · 揚 to raise (手 hand) - 훤 Hwon (usually second)
萱 daylily (forget-worry) (艹 grass) - 로 Ro (either position)
蘆 reed (艹 grass) · 蕗 liquorice (艹 grass) - 겸 Gyeom (usually second)
蒹 reed (艹 grass) - 람 Ram (usually second)
藍 indigo (艹 grass)
Fire names — 118 hanja
- 서 Seo (usually first)
曙 dawn light (日 sun) · 徐 calm, unhurried (彳 step) · 恕 forgiveness, empathy (心 heart) - 연 Yeon (either position)
燕 swallow (the bird) (灬 fire dots) · 然 so, natural (灬 fire dots) · 曣 clear sky (日 sun) - 윤 Yun / Yoon (either position)
昀 sunlight (日 sun) - 지 Ji (either position)
智 wisdom (日 sun) · 志 will, aspiration (心 heart) - 호 Ho (either position)
昊 summer sky (日 sun) · 晧 bright (日 sun) - 준 Jun / Joon (either position)
晙 bright, early light (日 sun) · 焌 to light a fire (火 fire) · 駿 fine horse, swift (馬 horse) - 현 Hyeon / Hyun (either position)
炫 to shine, dazzle (火 fire) · 晛 sunlight (日 sun) · 昡 bright sunlight (日 sun) - 민 Min (either position)
旻 autumn sky (日 sun) · 旼 gentle, harmonious (日 sun) · 慜 clever, quick (心 heart) - 하 Ha (usually first)
夏 summer (夊 (customary Fire)) · 昰 summer; right (日 sun) - 은 Eun (either position)
恩 grace, kindness (心 heart) · 慇 earnest, heartfelt (心 heart) - 도 Do (usually first)
燾 to shine upon (灬 fire dots) - 유 Yu / Yoo (either position)
愈 to heal, to excel (心 heart) · 悠 serene, far-reaching (心 heart) · 惟 to think, only (忄 heart) - 우 U / Woo (either position)
旴 sunrise (日 sun) - 영 Yeong / Young (either position)
暎 to reflect, shine (日 sun) · 映 reflection, glow (日 sun) · 煐 brilliant (火 fire) · 營 to build, manage (火 fire) - 수 Su / Soo (either position)
燧 flint fire (火 fire) - 진 Jin (either position)
晉 to advance, rise (日 sun) - 소 So (usually first)
昭 bright, clear (日 sun) · 炤 bright (火 fire) · 愫 sincerity (忄 heart) - 율 Yul (usually second)
燏 firelight (火 fire) · 律 law, rhythm (彳 step) - 온 On (either position)
昷 kind, warm (日 sun) · 熅 gentle warmth (火 fire) - 가 Ga (usually first)
暇 leisure (日 sun) - 리 Ri (either position)
悧 clever (忄 heart) - 시 Si / Shi (usually first)
時 time, season (日 sun) · 是 right, this (日 sun) · 恃 to rely on (忄 heart) - 안 An / Ahn (usually second)
晏 peaceful, serene (日 sun) - 태 Tae (usually first)
態 bearing, manner (心 heart) - 성 Seong / Sung (either position)
星 star (日 sun) · 晟 bright, prosperous (日 sun) · 性 nature, character (忄 heart) · 惺 awakened (忄 heart) · 晠 bright (日 sun) - 승 Seung (usually first)
昇 to rise (日 sun) - 정 Jeong / Jung (either position)
晶 crystal, sparkling (日 sun) · 炡 bright (火 fire) · 情 feeling, affection (忄 heart) · 晸 sunrise (日 sun) - 채 Chae (usually first)
彩 colour, brilliance (彡 brush strokes) - 해 Hae (usually first)
晐 complete (日 sun) - 혜 Hye (either position)
惠 grace, kindness (心 heart) · 慧 wisdom (心 heart) · 暳 twinkling star (日 sun) · 憓 loving (忄 heart) - 희 Hui / Hee (either position)
熙 bright, glorious (灬 fire dots) · 曦 sunlight (日 sun) · 熹 bright dawn (灬 fire dots) · 晞 daybreak (日 sun) · 憙 joy (心 heart) - 훈 Hun / Hoon (usually second)
熏 fragrant smoke (灬 fire dots) · 焄 fragrance (灬 fire dots) · 燻 to smoke, to warm (火 fire) · 曛 dusk light (日 sun) - 환 Hwan (usually second)
煥 shining, brilliant (火 fire) · 晥 bright (日 sun) - 규 Gyu / Kyu (either position)
煃 firelight (火 fire) - 경 Gyeong / Kyung (either position)
景 scenery; bright (日 sun) · 慶 celebration (心 heart) · 炅 radiant (火 fire) · 暻 bright (日 sun) · 憬 to awaken, aspire (忄 heart) - 강 Gang / Kang (usually first)
慷 generous spirit (忄 heart) - 원 Won (either position)
愿 sincere (心 heart) - 석 Seok / Suk (either position)
晳 bright (日 sun) · 晰 clear, distinct (日 sun) · 昔 old days (日 sun) - 철 Cheol / Chul (either position)
悊 wise (心 heart) - 용 Yong (either position)
熔 to melt, fuse (火 fire) - 혁 Hyeok / Hyuk (either position)
赫 brilliant, glorious (赤 red) · 爀 fiery red (火 fire) · 焃 red, bright (火 fire) - 찬 Chan (either position)
燦 brilliant (火 fire) - 한 Han (either position)
翰 writing brush; feather (羽 feather) - 빈 Bin (usually second)
彬 refined, cultivated (彡 brush strokes) - 미 Mi (either position)
微 subtle, delicate (彳 step) · 煝 shining (火 fire) - 주 Ju / Joo (either position)
晝 daytime (日 sun) · 炷 wick, to burn incense (火 fire) - 이 I / Yi (either position)
怡 joy, harmony (忄 heart) · 易 easy; change (日 sun) - 인 In (either position)
忈 benevolent (心 heart) - 화 Hwa (either position)
火 fire (火 fire) · 驊 fine horse (馬 horse) - 향 Hyang (usually second)
晑 bright (日 sun) - 선 Seon / Sun (either position)
愃 generous (忄 heart) - 오 O / Oh (usually second)
悟 enlightenment (忄 heart) · 晤 bright, clear (日 sun) · 旿 bright (日 sun) - 양 Yang (usually second)
暘 sunrise (日 sun) · 昜 sunshine (日 sun) - 훤 Hwon (usually second)
暄 warm sunshine (日 sun) · 煊 warm, bright (火 fire) · 烜 bright (火 fire) - 담 Dam (usually second)
憺 peaceful (忄 heart) - 로 Ro (either position)
爐 hearth (火 fire) - 후 Hu (usually second)
煦 warm, kind (灬 fire dots) - 랑 Rang (usually second)
烺 bright (火 fire)
Earth names — 143 hanja
- 서 Seo (usually first)
序 order, a beginning (广 shelter) - 연 Yeon (either position)
姸 beautiful, graceful (女 woman) · 娟 lovely (女 woman) · 妍 beautiful (女 woman) · 延 to extend, to last (廴 stride) - 지 Ji (either position)
址 foundation, site (土 earth) - 호 Ho (either position)
好 good, fond (女 woman) · 岵 wooded hill (山 mountain) - 준 Jun / Joon (either position)
埈 high, steep (土 earth) · 峻 lofty mountain (山 mountain) · 寯 outstanding (宀 roof) · 畯 field overseer (田 field) - 현 Hyeon / Hyun (either position)
峴 hill (山 mountain) · 娊 graceful (女 woman) - 민 Min (either position)
岷 Mount Min (山 mountain) - 하 Ha (usually first)
廈 great house (广 shelter) - 은 Eun (either position)
垠 horizon, boundary (土 earth) · 隱 hidden, quiet (阝 mound) - 아 A / Ah (either position)
娥 beautiful; moon goddess (女 woman) · 阿 hill; gentle (阝 mound) · 峨 lofty (山 mountain) · 婀 graceful (女 woman) - 도 Do (usually first)
道 the Way, path (辶 walk) · 都 capital, all (阝 town) · 島 island (山 mountain) · 陶 pottery; content (阝 mound) · 度 measure, grace (广 shelter) - 유 Yu / Yoo (either position)
由 reason, origin (田 field) · 宥 generous, forgiving (宀 roof) - 우 U / Woo (either position)
宇 universe, eaves (宀 roof) · 堣 corner, nook (土 earth) - 재 Jae (either position)
在 to exist, present (土 earth) · 宰 to govern (宀 roof) - 영 Yeong / Young (either position)
嶺 mountain ridge (山 mountain) · 寧 peaceful (宀 roof) - 수 Su / Soo (either position)
守 to guard, keep (宀 roof) · 岫 mountain cave (山 mountain) · 隨 to follow (阝 mound) - 진 Jin (either position)
進 to advance (辶 walk) · 辰 the Dragon branch; time (辰 (Earth branch)) · 陳 to display; old (阝 mound) · 臻 to reach, attain (至 arrive) - 소 So (usually first)
邵 lofty; a surname (阝 town) · 甦 to revive (生 life) - 예 Ye (either position)
埶 to plant (土 earth) - 린 Rin (usually second)
隣 neighbour (阝 mound) · 嶙 steep peaks (山 mountain) - 율 Yul (usually second)
嵂 steep (山 mountain) - 가 Ga (usually first)
家 home, family (宀 roof) · 迦 Buddha's name syllable (辶 walk) - 나 Na (either position)
娜 graceful (女 woman) · 那 that; a place name (阝 town) - 리 Ri (either position)
里 village (里 village) - 시 Si / Shi (usually first)
始 beginning (女 woman) · 塒 roost (土 earth) - 안 An / Ahn (usually second)
安 peace, safe (宀 roof) · 岸 shore (山 mountain) · 婩 pretty (女 woman) - 태 Tae (usually first)
邰 an ancient state (阝 town) · 埭 embankment (土 earth) · 娧 joyful (女 woman) - 성 Seong / Sung (either position)
城 castle, city (土 earth) · 宬 archive (宀 roof) · 娍 beautiful (女 woman) - 승 Seung (usually first)
陞 to ascend, promote (阝 mound) · 塍 field ridge (土 earth) · 陹 to rise (阝 mound) - 정 Jeong / Jung (either position)
正 right, upright (止 stop) · 定 settled, steady (宀 roof) · 姃 dignified (女 woman) · 庭 courtyard (广 shelter) · 婷 graceful (女 woman) - 채 Chae (usually first)
埰 fief, estate (土 earth) · 寀 estate (宀 roof) - 해 Hae (usually first)
垓 boundary; vast (土 earth) · 邂 to meet by chance (辶 walk) - 혜 Hye (either position)
寭 bright (宀 roof) - 희 Hui / Hee (either position)
姬 lady, noblewoman (女 woman) · 嬉 joyful play (女 woman) - 훈 Hun / Hoon (usually second)
壎 clay flute (土 earth) · 塤 clay flute (土 earth) - 환 Hwan (usually second)
還 to return (辶 walk) · 圜 round, heaven (囗 enclosure) · 寰 the whole world (宀 roof) - 규 Gyu / Kyu (either position)
圭 jade tablet; upright (土 earth) · 逵 broad road (辶 walk) · 巋 towering (山 mountain) - 경 Gyeong / Kyung (either position)
境 realm, boundary (土 earth) · 逕 path (辶 walk) · 坰 open country (土 earth) - 건 Geon / Gun (either position)
建 to build (廴 stride) - 강 Gang / Kang (usually first)
康 health, ease (广 shelter) · 岡 ridge (山 mountain) · 崗 hill (山 mountain) · 疆 territory (田 field) · 堈 hillock (土 earth) - 원 Won (either position)
原 origin, plain (厂 cliff) · 遠 far-reaching (辶 walk) · 園 garden (囗 enclosure) · 圓 round, complete (囗 enclosure) · 媛 beauty, lady (女 woman) · 垣 wall (土 earth) · 嫄 a legendary mother (女 woman) - 철 Cheol / Chul (either position)
埑 bright (土 earth) - 용 Yong (either position)
容 countenance; to embrace (宀 roof) · 埇 road (土 earth) · 墉 city wall (土 earth) · 庸 steady, ordinary (广 shelter) · 龍 dragon (龍 dragon) - 찬 Chan (either position)
巑 lofty peak (山 mountain) - 한 Han (either position)
邯 a place name (阝 town) · 嫺 refined, elegant (女 woman) - 빈 Bin (usually second)
嬪 court lady (女 woman) · 邠 an ancient state (阝 town) - 미 Mi (either position)
美 beautiful (羊 sheep) · 嵄 mountain name (山 mountain) · 媄 pretty (女 woman) - 주 Ju / Joo (either position)
宙 cosmos, sky (宀 roof) · 姝 pretty (女 woman) - 이 I / Yi (either position)
廙 respectful (广 shelter) · 邇 near, close (辶 walk) - 인 In (either position)
寅 the Tiger branch; respectful (宀 roof) · 因 cause, reason (囗 enclosure) - 화 Hwa (either position)
嬅 beautiful (女 woman) - 향 Hyang (usually second)
鄕 hometown (阝 town) - 선 Seon / Sun (either position)
宣 to proclaim; bright (宀 roof) · 選 chosen (辶 walk) · 嬋 graceful (女 woman) · 嫙 pretty (女 woman) · 墡 white clay (土 earth) - 오 O / Oh (usually second)
塢 bank, dock (土 earth) · 娛 joy (女 woman) - 양 Yang (usually second)
陽 sun, yang (阝 mound) · 壤 soil (土 earth) - 담 Dam (usually second)
郯 an ancient state (阝 town) - 로 Ro (either position)
路 road (足 foot) - 겸 Gyeom (usually second)
岒 mountain name (山 mountain) - 람 Ram (usually second)
嵐 mountain mist (山 mountain) - 후 Hu (usually second)
厚 generous, thick (厂 cliff) · 垕 generous (土 earth) · 逅 to meet (辶 walk) - 랑 Rang (usually second)
郎 young man (阝 town) · 娘 young lady (女 woman)
Metal names — 124 hanja
- 서 Seo (usually first)
瑞 auspicious, a lucky omen (玉 jade) - 연 Yeon (either position)
瑌 jade-like stone (玉 jade) · 鍊 tempered, refined (金 metal) - 윤 Yun / Yoon (either position)
玧 lustre of jade (玉 jade) - 지 Ji (either position)
知 to know (矢 arrow) · 誌 record, to remember (言 speech) - 호 Ho (either position)
皓 bright, white (白 white) · 皞 bright and calm (白 white) · 鎬 bright; an ancient capital (金 metal) · 護 to protect (言 speech) - 현 Hyeon / Hyun (either position)
賢 wise, worthy (貝 shell) · 玹 jade-like stone (玉 jade) · 鉉 cauldron handle; high office (金 metal) - 민 Min (either position)
珉 jade-like stone (玉 jade) · 玟 streaked jade (玉 jade) - 하 Ha (usually first)
賀 to congratulate (貝 shell) - 은 Eun (either position)
銀 silver (金 metal) · 珢 jade-like stone (玉 jade) · 誾 gentle, respectful (言 speech) - 유 Yu / Yoo (either position)
瑜 fine jade (玉 jade) · 諭 to enlighten (言 speech) - 우 U / Woo (either position)
瑀 jade ornament (玉 jade) · 玗 jade-like stone (玉 jade) · 訏 grand, vast (言 speech) - 재 Jae (either position)
財 wealth (貝 shell) · 載 to carry, record (車 cart) - 영 Yeong / Young (either position)
瑛 lustre of jade (玉 jade) · 瑩 lustrous, clear (玉 jade) · 詠 to sing, recite (言 speech) · 瓔 jade necklace (玉 jade) - 수 Su / Soo (either position)
銖 a small weight; precise (金 metal) · 琇 jade-like stone (玉 jade) · 璲 jade pendant (玉 jade) - 진 Jin (either position)
珍 precious (玉 jade) · 鎭 to calm, guard (金 metal) · 瑨 beautiful stone (玉 jade) · 璡 jade-like stone (玉 jade) - 소 So (usually first)
玿 beautiful jade (玉 jade) - 예 Ye (either position)
譽 honour, praise (言 speech) · 銳 sharp, keen (金 metal) · 玴 jade-like stone (玉 jade) - 린 Rin (usually second)
璘 lustre of jade (玉 jade) - 온 On (either position)
瑥 a jade name (玉 jade) - 가 Ga (usually first)
珂 white jade (玉 jade) · 珈 jade hair ornament (玉 jade) - 리 Ri (either position)
理 reason, principle (玉 jade) · 利 benefit, sharp (刂 knife) · 璃 glass, lapis (玉 jade) - 시 Si / Shi (usually first)
詩 poem (言 speech) · 諟 correct (言 speech) - 태 Tae (usually first)
珆 patterned jade (玉 jade) - 성 Seong / Sung (either position)
成 to achieve (戈 spear) · 誠 sincerity (言 speech) · 珹 a jade name (玉 jade) · 瑆 lustre of jade (玉 jade) · 醒 awake, aware (酉 wine jar) - 정 Jeong / Jung (either position)
貞 faithful, chaste (貝 shell) · 珽 jade sceptre (玉 jade) · 珵 a jade name (玉 jade) - 채 Chae (usually first)
釵 hairpin (金 metal) · 琗 jade lustre (玉 jade) - 해 Hae (usually first)
諧 harmony (言 speech) - 혜 Hye (either position)
譓 wise (言 speech) · 譿 clever (言 speech) - 훈 Hun / Hoon (usually second)
訓 teaching (言 speech) · 鑂 golden colour (金 metal) - 환 Hwan (usually second)
環 ring, jade ring (玉 jade) · 瓛 jade sceptre (玉 jade) · 皖 morning star (白 white) - 규 Gyu / Kyu (either position)
珪 jade tablet (玉 jade) - 경 Gyeong / Kyung (either position)
璟 lustre of jade (玉 jade) · 瓊 fine jade (玉 jade) · 鏡 mirror (金 metal) · 庚 the seventh stem (庚 (Metal stem)) · 璥 a jade name (玉 jade) - 건 Geon / Gun (either position)
鍵 key (金 metal) - 결 Gyeol (usually second)
玦 jade ring (玉 jade) - 강 Gang / Kang (usually first)
剛 firm, strong (刂 knife) · 鋼 steel (金 metal) · 玒 a jade name (玉 jade) - 원 Won (either position)
瑗 large jade ring (玉 jade) - 석 Seok / Suk (either position)
錫 tin; to bestow (金 metal) · 鉐 brass (金 metal) - 철 Cheol / Chul (either position)
鐵 iron (金 metal) · 鉄 iron (金 metal) · 銕 iron (金 metal) - 용 Yong (either position)
鎔 to smelt, mould (金 metal) · 瑢 tinkling jade (玉 jade) · 鏞 great bell (金 metal) - 혁 Hyeok / Hyuk (either position)
革 leather; reform (革 leather) - 찬 Chan (either position)
璨 lustrous gem (玉 jade) · 瓚 jade ladle (玉 jade) · 讚 praise (言 speech) · 贊 to assist, approve (貝 shell) - 빈 Bin (usually second)
賓 honoured guest (貝 shell) · 玭 pearl (玉 jade) · 鑌 fine steel (金 metal) · 贇 beautiful, refined (貝 shell) - 미 Mi (either position)
瑂 jade-like stone (玉 jade) - 주 Ju / Joo (either position)
珠 pearl (玉 jade) · 珘 a jade name (玉 jade) - 이 I / Yi (either position)
珥 jade earring (玉 jade) · 貽 to bestow (貝 shell) · 珆 jade-like stone (玉 jade) - 인 In (either position)
認 to recognise (言 speech) · 璌 a jade name (玉 jade) · 諲 respectful (言 speech) - 향 Hyang (usually second)
珦 a jade name (玉 jade) - 선 Seon / Sun (either position)
璇 fine jade; a star (玉 jade) · 瑄 ceremonial jade (玉 jade) · 琁 fine jade (玉 jade) · 銑 polished metal (金 metal) · 詵 many, abundant (言 speech) · 珗 jade-like stone (玉 jade) - 슬 Seul (either position)
瑟 zither (玉 jade) · 璱 blue-green gem (玉 jade) - 오 O / Oh (usually second)
珸 jade-like stone (玉 jade) - 담 Dam (usually second)
談 conversation (言 speech) · 譚 story (言 speech) - 로 Ro (either position)
璐 beautiful jade (玉 jade) - 겸 Gyeom (usually second)
謙 humility (言 speech) - 후 Hu (usually second)
珝 a jade name (玉 jade) - 랑 Rang (usually second)
琅 a gem; clear ringing (玉 jade) · 瑯 a gem (玉 jade)
Water names — 115 hanja
- 연 Yeon (either position)
淵 deep pool, profound (氵 water) · 演 to unfold, perform (氵 water) · 涓 clear trickling water (氵 water) · 沇 flowing water (氵 water) - 윤 Yun / Yoon (either position)
潤 moist, glossy, enriching (氵 water) - 지 Ji (either position)
池 pond (氵 water) · 沚 islet (氵 water) - 호 Ho (either position)
浩 vast, grand (氵 water) · 湖 lake (氵 water) · 澔 vast (氵 water) · 淏 clear water (氵 water) · 灝 boundless water (氵 water) - 준 Jun / Joon (either position)
浚 deep, to dredge (氵 water) · 準 standard, level (氵 water) · 濬 deep, profound (氵 water) - 현 Hyeon / Hyun (either position)
泫 glistening drops (氵 water) - 하 Ha (usually first)
河 river (氵 water) · 霞 rosy clouds (雨 rain) - 은 Eun (either position)
溵 sound of water (氵 water) - 도 Do (usually first)
濤 great waves (氵 water) · 渡 to cross over (氵 water) - 유 Yu / Yoo (either position)
唯 only, unique (口 mouth) · 游 to roam, to swim (氵 water) · 洧 river name (氵 water) - 우 U / Woo (either position)
雨 rain (雨 rain) - 재 Jae (either position)
渽 clear (氵 water) - 영 Yeong / Young (either position)
永 eternal (水 water) · 泳 to swim (氵 water) · 潁 river name (氵 water) · 瀛 ocean (氵 water) · 渶 clear water (氵 water) - 수 Su / Soo (either position)
洙 river name (氵 water) · 水 water (水 water) - 진 Jin (either position)
震 thunder (雨 rain) · 溱 abundant water (氵 water) · 津 ferry, ford (氵 water) - 소 So (usually first)
沼 pond (氵 water) · 溯 to trace upstream (氵 water) · 霄 sky (雨 rain) · 瀟 clear and deep (氵 water) - 예 Ye (either position)
汭 river bend (氵 water) · 霓 rainbow (雨 rain) - 린 Rin (usually second)
潾 clear water (氵 water) - 율 Yul (usually second)
汩 flowing (氵 water) · 潏 gushing spring (氵 water) - 온 On (either position)
溫 warm, gentle (氵 water) - 가 Ga (usually first)
嘉 fine, praiseworthy (口 mouth) · 可 possible, right (口 mouth) - 리 Ri (either position)
浬 nautical mile (氵 water) · 鯉 carp (魚 fish) - 태 Tae (usually first)
泰 great, peaceful (水 water) · 台 platform; star (口 mouth) - 정 Jeong / Jung (either position)
汀 shoreline (氵 water) · 淨 clean, pure (氵 water) · 湞 river name (氵 water) - 해 Hae (usually first)
海 sea (氵 water) · 澥 a sea name (氵 water) · 瀣 night dew (氵 water) - 혜 Hye (either position)
潓 river name (氵 water) - 희 Hui / Hee (either position)
喜 joy, delight (口 mouth) · 凞 shining (冫 ice) - 규 Gyu / Kyu (either position)
湀 welling spring (氵 water) - 경 Gyeong / Kyung (either position)
涇 to flow through (氵 water) - 건 Geon / Gun (either position)
湕 river name (氵 water) - 결 Gyeol (usually second)
潔 clean, pure (氵 water) · 決 decisive (氵 water) - 강 Gang / Kang (usually first)
江 great river (氵 water) - 원 Won (either position)
源 source, spring (氵 water) · 沅 river name (氵 water) · 洹 river name (氵 water) · 湲 flowing water (氵 water) - 석 Seok / Suk (either position)
汐 evening tide (氵 water) - 철 Cheol / Chul (either position)
澈 clear, limpid (氵 water) · 哲 wise, philosophical (口 mouth) · 喆 wise (口 mouth) - 용 Yong (either position)
溶 to dissolve, flowing (氵 water) · 湧 to gush (氵 water) · 涌 to well up (氵 water) - 찬 Chan (either position)
澯 clear water (氵 water) - 한 Han (either position)
漢 the Han river; grand (氵 water) · 瀚 vast (氵 water) · 澖 wide water (氵 water) - 범 Beom / Bum (either position)
汎 broad, floating (氵 water) · 泛 to float widely (氵 water) · 渢 sound of water (氵 water) - 빈 Bin (usually second)
濱 shore (氵 water) · 霦 jade lustre (雨 rain) - 미 Mi (either position)
渼 ripples (氵 water) · 湄 waterside (氵 water) · 瀰 wide water (氵 water) - 주 Ju / Joo (either position)
洲 continent, islet (氵 water) · 澍 timely rain (氵 water) · 湊 to gather (氵 water) · 周 complete, all round (口 mouth) · 州 province (巛 river) - 화 Hwa (either position)
和 harmony (口 mouth) · 澕 deep water (氵 water) - 향 Hyang (usually second)
向 to face toward (口 mouth) - 선 Seon / Sun (either position)
善 good, kind (口 mouth) · 鮮 fresh, bright (魚 fish) · 渲 wash of ink (氵 water) - 오 O / Oh (usually second)
澳 deep bay (氵 water) · 吾 I, myself (口 mouth) - 양 Yang (usually second)
洋 ocean (氵 water) · 瀁 shape of water (氵 water) · 養 to nurture (食 food) - 담 Dam (usually second)
潭 deep pool (氵 water) · 淡 clear, mild (氵 water) · 澹 calm, tranquil (氵 water) · 湛 deep, clear (氵 water) - 로 Ro (either position)
露 dew (雨 rain) · 潞 river name (氵 water) · 瀘 river name (氵 water) - 람 Ram (usually second)
灆 clear water (氵 water) - 랑 Rang (usually second)
浪 wave (氵 water)
FAQ
Does a Korean name have to have hanja?
No. Many Koreans register hangul-only names, and pure Korean names such as 하늘 or 이슬 have no characters at all. Hanja add a second layer of meaning and are needed for the element method, but a name written only in hangul is every bit as official.
Can a foreigner have a Korean name?
Yes. Language learners, K-pop fans and people in international marriages often choose one, and Korean friends or teachers enjoy helping. Nothing legal is required: you can simply use it. Only if you naturalize does a name need to be registered officially.
Is the five-element method scientifically proven?
No. It is a cultural tradition, part of the same world of ideas as the Saju chart itself, and there is no evidence that a name's element changes a person's fortune. The honest way to use it is the way you would use any naming tradition: choose a name whose sound and meaning you genuinely like.
Why two syllables?
Convention, not law. Two-syllable given names became the norm over the past few centuries, partly because one syllable was often a generation name (돌림자) shared with siblings and cousins. One-syllable names such as 준 (Jun) and three-syllable ones, often pure Korean, exist and are perfectly legal.
How do I know which hanja to register?
Parents write the name in hangul on the birth report and add the hanja for each syllable beside it. The registry accepts only characters on the Supreme Court's list of name hanja, so an unlisted character has to be swapped for a listed one with the same sound. Check a character against that list before registering it.
Are these names actually used in Korea today?
Yes. The syllables come from names that have been popular over the last few decades, and the pairings are ordinary Korean given names you would meet in any classroom or office. A few pairings are rarer than others, but all of them read as real Korean names.
This page is for entertainment and learning only; it is not a substitute for a professional naming service (작명소) or for legal advice on registering a name.
Four Pillars calculator · The ten Day Masters · Korean age calculator · Chinese zodiac calculator · Which Day Master are you? · 한국어: 이름 한자 사전 (뜻·원획·자원오행)
