HANJA IN NAMES · 51
世
인간 세 · world
The character for the world and for a generation. In a name it suggests someone who will make a mark on their time.
- 以써 이A grammatical character meaning “by means of.” Parents usually pick it for the clean sound 이 rather than for its meaning.
- 伊저 이Originally a pronoun, “that person.” Like 以, it's chosen mostly for its soft sound, and it gives a name an old, literary feel.
- 俊준걸 준Talented, outstanding — one of the most popular boy-name characters of recent decades, behind names like 민준 and 서준.
- 允진실로 윤Sincerely, truly — also “to permit.” A quiet, trustworthy character for the 윤 sound.
- 勳공 훈Merit, a deed worth honoring. 훈 in names like 지훈 carries the hope of achieving something people remember.
- 厚두터울 후Thick, deep, generous — a person with a big heart. Paired with 智 in 지후: wise and warm.
- 周두루 주All around, thorough. It suggests a person who looks after everything and everyone.
- 善착할 선Good, kind — one of the plainest and most loved virtue characters.
- 在있을 재To be present, to exist. In 민재 and 재민 it reads as “someone who is there for others.”
- 夏여름 하Summer. Popular in 하윤 and 하린 for its bright, open sound — no seasonal birth required.
- 多많을 다Many, plenty. In 다은 it means “much grace” — a blessing heaped up.
- 太클 태Great, very — the 태 of 태양 (the sun). A bold, big-hearted character.
- 奈어찌 내(이름에서는 나)An old question word, “how?” It's chosen almost purely for the sound 나.
- 妍고울 연Beautiful, lovely — with the woman radical, a classic girl-name character, as in 서연.
- 娜아리따울 나Graceful, slender. Found in 나연 — a soft, elegant character.
- 娥예쁠 아Lovely, beautiful — the 아 of 아린. In old stories it's also tied to the moon goddess.
- 宇집 우House, eaves — and the universe, as in 宇宙. Hugely popular in boy names: 준우, 건우, 현우, 선우…
- 安편안 안Peace, comfort. 지안 and 이안 carry the wish for a calm, safe life.
- 延늘일 연To extend, to last long — a quiet wish for a long life.
- 建세울 건To build, to establish. 건우: someone who builds a home, or a world.
- 彩채색 채Color, brilliance. 채원: a garden of color.
- 彬빛날 빈Refined and well balanced — the 빈 of 수빈.
- 律법칙 률(이름에서는 율)Rule, law — and rhythm, as in 旋律 (melody). Read 율 after a vowel, as in 소율.
- 恩은혜 은Grace, kindness received. One of the most common girl-name endings: 하은, 예은, 다은, 은서.
- 承이을 승To carry on, to inherit — a child who continues the family's story.
- 敏민첩할 민Quick, sharp-minded. Behind many 민 names: 민준, 민서, 승민, 태민.
- 昭밝을 소Bright, clear — with the sun radical. 소율: a bright melody.
- 時때 시Time, season. 시우 pairs it with rain: rain that comes at the right time.
- 智슬기 지Wisdom — one of the most common characters in this list of names: 지우, 지아, 지안, 지호, 지훈…
- 正바를 정Upright, correct. 정우: an upright, steady person.
- 河물 하River — once the name of the Yellow River itself. 하은: grace that flows like a river.
- 泰클 태Great, calm and secure — as in 泰山, a byword for something immovable.
- 浩넓을 호Vast, like wide water. 지호: wisdom as broad as the sea.
- 淵못 연A deep pool. 연우: deep and steady, like still water.
- 源근원 원Source, spring. In 주원 and 채원 it hints at a life that keeps flowing.
- 潤윤택할 윤Glossy, rich, moist — the 윤 of 서윤, 하윤 and 도윤, some of the most popular names today.
- 潾맑을 린Clear, sparkling water — a rarer character, chosen for the 린 sound in 아린, 예린, 하린.
- 理다스릴 리Reason, order — originally to cut jade along its grain. 리아: graceful and sensible.
- 瑞상서 서Auspicious, a good omen — the 서 of 서연, 서윤, 민서, 은서 and many more.
- 由말미암을 유From, because of — and freely. 유나 uses it mostly for the 유 sound.
- 眞참 진True, genuine — the traditional form of 真. 우진: truly great.
- 秀빼어날 수Outstanding, excellent — with the grain radical, like a fine ear of rice. 수아, 수빈.
- 藝재주 예Art, skill — the 예 of 藝術 (art). 예은, 예린, 예준.
- 裕넉넉할 유Abundant, well-off. 지유: wise and wanting for nothing.
- 賢어질 현Wise and virtuous — with the shell (money) radical, a sign of worth. 현우, 승현, 도현.
- 道길 도The way, the path — as in 道理. 도윤 and 도현: someone who walks a good road.
- 采캘 채To gather, to pick — and also color. 채은: gathered grace.
- 陽볕 양Sunlight, the bright side — the 양 of 태양.
- 雅우아할 아Elegant, refined — a favorite for the 아 sound: 지아, 수아, 리아, 세아.
- 雨비 우Rain — in names, gentle rain that helps things grow. 지우, 시우.