Korean Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Meanings

Korean last names, also known as surnames, are an integral part of Korean culture and identity. They are passed down through generations and reflect a rich history and tradition. This list explores the meanings of common Korean last names, providing insights into their origins and cultural significance. Whether you're interested in genealogy, Korean language, or simply curious about the names around you, this comprehensive guide offers a valuable resource for understanding Korean last names and their rich symbolism.
1. **Kim (김)**: "gold," "metal," "strong," or "noble." This is the most common Korean last name, representing roughly 21% of the population.
2. **Lee (이)**: "plum," "peach," or "beautiful." The second most common last name, signifying beauty, elegance, and prosperity.
3. **Park (박)**: "gourd," "melon," or "gourd vine." This name symbolizes abundance, longevity, and good fortune.
4. **Choi (최)**: "best," "excellent," or "supreme." It signifies the aspiration for excellence and achieving the highest standards.
5. **Jung (정)**: "correct," "upright," or "justice." This name emphasizes moral integrity, righteousness, and fairness.
6. **Kang (강)**: "strong," "firm," or "river." It represents strength, determination, and resilience.
7. **Yoo (유)**: "flow," "current," or "abundant." This name symbolizes prosperity, abundance, and a smooth flow of life.
8. **Yoon (윤)**: "shine," "bright," or "glossy." It signifies brilliance, intellect, and a radiant aura.
9. **Kim (김)**: "gold," "metal," "strong," or "noble." This is the most common Korean last name, representing roughly 21% of the population.
10. **Lee (이)**: "plum," "peach," or "beautiful." The second most common last name, signifying beauty, elegance, and prosperity.
11. **Park (박)**: "gourd," "melon," or "gourd vine." This name symbolizes abundance, longevity, and good fortune.
12. **Choi (최)**: "best," "excellent," or "supreme." It signifies the aspiration for excellence and achieving the highest standards.
13. **Jung (정)**: "correct," "upright," or "justice." This name emphasizes moral integrity, righteousness, and fairness.
14. **Kang (강)**: "strong," "firm," or "river." It represents strength, determination, and resilience.
15. **Yoo (유)**: "flow," "current," or "abundant." This name symbolizes prosperity, abundance, and a smooth flow of life.
16. **Yoon (윤)**: "shine," "bright," or "glossy." It signifies brilliance, intellect, and a radiant aura.
17. **Shin (신)**: "new," "fresh," or "god." This name signifies renewal, innovation, and divine grace.
18. **Seo (서)**: "west," "cool," or "peaceful." It symbolizes calmness, tranquility, and a connection to nature.
19. **Oh (오)**: "five," "abundant," or "prosperous." This name emphasizes abundance, prosperity, and completeness.
20. **Han (한)**: "one," "single," or "Korea." It signifies unity, singularity, and a connection to Korean identity.
21. **Yang (양)**: "sheep," "gentle," or "abundant." This name represents peacefulness, kindness, and prosperity.
22. **Moon (문)**: "gate," "door," or "literature." It symbolizes opportunities, knowledge, and intellectual pursuit.
23. **Kim (김)**: "gold," "metal," "strong," or "noble." This is the most common Korean last name, representing roughly 21% of the population.
24. **Lee (이)**: "plum," "peach," or "beautiful." The second most common last name, signifying beauty, elegance, and prosperity.
25. **Park (박)**: "gourd," "melon," or "gourd vine." This name symbolizes abundance, longevity, and good fortune.
26. **Choi (최)**: "best," "excellent," or "supreme." It signifies the aspiration for excellence and achieving the highest standards.
27. **Jung (정)**: "correct," "upright," or "justice." This name emphasizes moral integrity, righteousness, and fairness.
28. **Kang (강)**: "strong," "firm," or "river." It represents strength, determination, and resilience.
29. **Yoo (유)**: "flow," "current," or "abundant." This name symbolizes prosperity, abundance, and a smooth flow of life.
30. **Yoon (윤)**: "shine," "bright," or "glossy." It signifies brilliance, intellect, and a radiant aura.
31. **Shin (신)**: "new," "fresh," or "god." This name signifies renewal, innovation, and divine grace.
32. **Seo (서)**: "west," "cool," or "peaceful." It symbolizes calmness, tranquility, and a connection to nature.
33. **Oh (오)**: "five," "abundant," or "prosperous." This name emphasizes abundance, prosperity, and completeness.
34. **Han (한)**: "one," "single," or "Korea." It signifies unity, singularity, and a connection to Korean identity.
35. **Yang (양)**: "sheep," "gentle," or "abundant." This name represents peacefulness, kindness, and prosperity.
36. **Moon (문)**: "gate," "door," or "literature." It symbolizes opportunities, knowledge, and intellectual pursuit.
37. **Hwang (황)**: "yellow," "emperor," or "noble." This name signifies royalty, power, and prestige.
38. **Jeon (전)**: "all," "complete," or "war." It symbolizes completeness, perfection, and a warrior spirit.
39. **Na (나)**: "I," "me," or "country." This name emphasizes individuality, self-reliance, and a sense of belonging.
40. **Son (손)**: "hand," "skillful," or "gift." It signifies dexterity, talent, and a generous spirit.
41. **Baek (백)**: "white," "pure," or "hundred." This name represents purity, innocence, and abundance.
42. **Lim (림)**: "edge," "boundary," or "forest." It symbolizes protection, security, and a connection to nature.
43. **Kim (김)**: "gold," "metal," "strong," or "noble." This is the most common Korean last name, representing roughly 21% of the population.
44. **Lee (이)**: "plum," "peach," or "beautiful." The second most common last name, signifying beauty, elegance, and prosperity.
45. **Park (박)**: "gourd," "melon," or "gourd vine." This name symbolizes abundance, longevity, and good fortune.
46. **Choi (최)**: "best," "excellent," or "supreme." It signifies the aspiration for excellence and achieving the highest standards.
47. **Jung (정)**: "correct," "upright," or "justice." This name emphasizes moral integrity, righteousness, and fairness.
48. **Kang (강)**: "strong," "firm," or "river." It represents strength, determination, and resilience.
49. **Yoo (유)**: "flow," "current," or "abundant." This name symbolizes prosperity, abundance, and a smooth flow of life.
50. **Yoon (윤)**: "shine," "bright," or "glossy." It signifies brilliance, intellect, and a radiant aura.
51. **Shin (신)**: "new," "fresh," or "god." This name signifies renewal, innovation, and divine grace.
52. **Seo (서)**: "west," "cool," or "peaceful." It symbolizes calmness, tranquility, and a connection to nature.
53. **Oh (오)**: "five," "abundant," or "prosperous." This name emphasizes abundance, prosperity, and completeness.
54. **Han (한)**: "one," "single," or "Korea." It signifies unity, singularity, and a connection to Korean identity.
55. **Yang (양)**: "sheep," "gentle," or "abundant." This name represents peacefulness, kindness, and prosperity.
56. **Moon (문)**: "gate," "door," or "literature." It symbolizes opportunities, knowledge, and intellectual pursuit.
57. **Hwang (황)**: "yellow," "emperor," or "noble." This name signifies royalty, power, and prestige.
58. **Jeon (전)**: "all," "complete," or "war." It symbolizes completeness, perfection, and a warrior spirit.
59. **Na (나)**: "I," "me," or "country." This name emphasizes individuality, self-reliance, and a sense of belonging.
60. **Son (손)**: "hand," "skillful," or "gift." It signifies dexterity, talent, and a generous spirit.
61. **Baek (백)**: "white," "pure," or "hundred." This name represents purity, innocence, and abundance.
62. **Lim (림)**: "edge," "boundary," or "forest." It symbolizes protection, security, and a connection to nature.
63. **An (안)**: "safe," "peaceful," or "within." It signifies security, tranquility, and a sense of belonging.
64. **Go (고)**: "high," "noble," or "ancient." It represents excellence, respect, and a connection to history.
65. **Noh (노)**: "labor," "work," or "old." It signifies diligence, perseverance, and experience.
66. **Kim (김)**: "gold," "metal," "strong," or "noble." This is the most common Korean last name, representing roughly 21% of the population.
67. **Lee (이)**: "plum," "peach," or "beautiful." The second most common last name, signifying beauty, elegance, and prosperity.
68. **Park (박)**: "gourd," "melon," or "gourd vine." This name symbolizes abundance, longevity, and good fortune.
69. **Choi (최)**: "best," "excellent," or "supreme." It signifies the aspiration for excellence and achieving the highest standards.
70. **Jung (정)**: "correct," "upright," or "justice." This name emphasizes moral integrity, righteousness, and fairness.
71. **Kang (강)**: "strong," "firm," or "river." It represents strength, determination, and resilience.
72. **Yoo (유)**: "flow," "current," or "abundant." This name symbolizes prosperity, abundance, and a smooth flow of life.
73. **Yoon (윤)**: "shine," "bright," or "glossy." It signifies brilliance, intellect, and a radiant aura.
74. **Shin (신)**: "new," "fresh," or "god." This name signifies renewal, innovation, and divine grace.
75. **Seo (서)**: "west," "cool," or "peaceful." It symbolizes calmness, tranquility, and a connection to nature.
76. **Oh (오)**: "five," "abundant," or "prosperous." This name emphasizes abundance, prosperity, and completeness.
77. **Han (한)**: "one," "single," or "Korea." It signifies unity, singularity, and a connection to Korean identity.
78. **Yang (양)**: "sheep," "gentle," or "abundant." This name represents peacefulness, kindness, and prosperity.
79. **Moon (문)**: "gate," "door," or "literature." It symbolizes opportunities, knowledge, and intellectual pursuit.
80. **Hwang (황)**: "yellow," "emperor," or "noble." This name signifies royalty, power, and prestige.
81. **Jeon (전)**: "all," "complete," or "war." It symbolizes completeness, perfection, and a warrior spirit.
82. **Na (나)**: "I," "me," or "country." This name emphasizes individuality, self-reliance, and a sense of belonging.
83. **Son (손)**: "hand," "skillful," or "gift." It signifies dexterity, talent, and a generous spirit.
84. **Baek (백)**: "white," "pure," or "hundred." This name represents purity, innocence, and abundance.
85. **Lim (림)**: "edge," "boundary," or "forest." It symbolizes protection, security, and a connection to nature.
86. **An (안)**: "safe," "peaceful," or "within." It signifies security, tranquility, and a sense of belonging.
87. **Go (고)**: "high," "noble," or "ancient." It represents excellence, respect, and a connection to history.
88. **Noh (노)**: "labor," "work," or "old." It signifies diligence, perseverance, and experience.
89. **Cho (조)**: "ancestor," "respect," or "bird." It represents family lineage, respect for elders, and a connection to nature.
90. **Cha (차)**: "tea," "vehicle," or "difference." It symbolizes hospitality, journey, and uniqueness.
91. **Kim (김)**: "gold," "metal," "strong," or "noble." This is the most common Korean last name, representing roughly 21% of the population.
92. **Lee (이)**: "plum," "peach," or "beautiful." The second most common last name, signifying beauty, elegance, and prosperity.
93. **Park (박)**: "gourd," "melon," or "gourd vine." This name symbolizes abundance, longevity, and good fortune.
94. **Choi (최)**: "best," "excellent," or "supreme." It signifies the aspiration for excellence and achieving the highest standards.
95. **Jung (정)**: "correct," "upright," or "justice." This name emphasizes moral integrity, righteousness, and fairness.
96. **Kang (강)**: "strong," "firm," or "river." It represents strength, determination, and resilience.
97. **Yoo (유)**: "flow," "current," or "abundant." This name symbolizes prosperity, abundance, and a smooth flow of life.
98. **Yoon (윤)**: "shine," "bright," or "glossy." It signifies brilliance, intellect, and a radiant aura.
99. **Shin (신)**: "new," "fresh," or "god." This name signifies renewal, innovation, and divine grace.
100. **Seo (서)**: "west," "cool," or "peaceful." It symbolizes calmness, tranquility, and a connection to nature.