Korean Nickname Generator

Korean pet names, byeolmyeong and name shortenings

Real-World Names & CulturesPart of: real-world name generators500 names

0 of 500 seen

This or that?

7 picks, 1 winner

Tap the name you like more.

Tap a name to copy it. The arrows swap one name.

Or browse all 500 names, A to Z

Korean nicknames and terms of endearment in romanized form, from couple names like Jagiya and Aegi to teasing byeolmyeong like Ulbo and name shortenings like Min-i (Jimin). A short gloss follows wherever one helps.

About this generator

Korean has two everyday words for a nickname. A byeolmyeong is the name friends or classmates give you, usually from a habit, a look or a play on your name: Ulbo for a crybaby, Kidari for the one with long legs, Gimbap for a friend whose surname is Kim. An aeching is a fond name between people who are close, which is where couple names like Jagiya and Aegi belong. Parents add a third kind, the taemyeong, a name for a baby before birth, such as Teunteuni or Bokdeongi.

Given names are shortened by rule. A name ending in a consonant takes -i in casual talk (Jimin-i) and -a when you call the person (Jimin-a), while a name ending in a vowel takes -ya (Minho-ya). Friends often keep only the last syllable, so Jimin becomes Min-i. Kinship words do much of the work that nicknames do in English: a woman calls an older male friend or boyfriend oppa, a man says hyeong and nuna, and parents are widely known by a child's name, as in Jiu eomma.

Every entry follows Revised Romanization, South Korea's official system since 2000, so spellings track pronunciation. That is why the youngest of a group appears as Mangnae, which fans usually write maknae, and why Kim shows up as Gim in the surname puns.

Tips for choosing a name

  • Match the ending to the name: -i or -a after a final consonant (Minjun-a), -ya after a final vowel (Jisu-ya). The wrong ending sounds off to a Korean ear at once.
  • Pick kinship words by who is speaking. A woman says oppa and eonni, a man says hyeong and nuna, and all four are only for someone older than the speaker.
  • Keep teasing byeolmyeong such as Meokbo or Dwaeji for close friends who will laugh along. Said to a stranger or a senior, they are plain rude.
  • Couple names are not interchangeable. Yeobo is what married people say, so a new couple in a story would use Jagiya or a pet name such as Gangaji instead.
  • When you search further, try the fan spellings too (hyung, unnie, maknae). They are the same words as Hyeong, Eonni and Mangnae in this list.

Frequently asked questions

What is a byeolmyeong?

Byeolmyeong is the Korean word for a nickname that other people give you, most often at school or among friends. It usually points at a habit, a look or your name itself, which is how you get Jamkkureogi for a sleepyhead, Wangnuni for someone with big eyes or Hobak for a friend named Park. Fond names between couples and family are more often called aeching.

What do Korean couples call each other?

Jagi and Jagiya are the everyday choice for dating couples, and Yeobo is what married couples say. Many women call an older boyfriend Oppa, and pet names such as Aegi, Kkoma or Nae sarang are common too. The glosses say so when a name belongs to one stage of life, as Yeobo does.

Why do some names end in -i, -a or -ya?

They are small endings added to a given name in casual speech. After a final consonant Koreans add -i when talking about the person and -a when calling them, so Jimin becomes Jimin-i or Jimin-a. After a final vowel the calling form is -ya, as in Minho-ya. None of them is used to someone older or in a formal setting.

Why is maknae spelled Mangnae here?

The page uses Revised Romanization throughout, and that system writes words the way they are pronounced. The Korean word is said with an ng sound before the n, so it comes out as Mangnae, while maknae is the spelling fans settled on. The same rule gives Eonni for unnie and Hyeong for hyung.

Related generators

More like this

Browse category

All 500 names

This is the complete list the generator above draws its random batches from, sorted A to Z and grouped by first letter.

Plain text, one name per line.

A: 14 names

  • Adeul (son, as a call)
  • Aegi (baby)
  • Aegiya (baby, when calling)
  • Aegyojaengi (someone full of aegyo)
  • Aegyowang (king of aegyo)
  • Aeneulgeuni (child who acts like an old soul)
  • Aengdu (cherry; small red lips)
  • Agi (baby, standard form)
  • Ajae (middle-aged guy; teller of dad jokes)
  • Akbari (never gives up)
  • Alkongi (from alkong-dalkong, sweet and loving)
  • Angyeong (glasses; pun on the surname An, or Ahn)
  • Ara-ya
  • Assa (outsider; the loner)

B: 40 names

  • Babo (silly, fool; fond between close people)
  • Badugi (spotted dog, like Spot)
  • Baechu (napa cabbage; pun on the surname Bae)
  • Baekgu (white dog; pun on the surname Baek)
  • Baekjo (swan)
  • Baekseolgongju (Snow White)
  • Bagajimeori (bowl cut)
  • Bakchi (no sense of rhythm)
  • Baksa (doctor; the know-it-all)
  • Bamtol (little chestnut)
  • Bandalgom (moon bear)
  • Banggeusi (smiley)
  • Banjang (class president)

B, continued

  • Banjjagi (sparkle)
  • Bejjangi (grasshopper; the idler of the fable)
  • Beomi (tiger)
  • Beomsaengi (goody two-shoes)
  • Bepeu (best friend, from English)
  • Bin-i (Subin)
  • Bitamin (vitamin; cheers everyone up)
  • Bojogae (dimple)
  • Bok-i (Yeongbok)
  • Bokdeongi (bundle of luck)
  • Bokdungi (lucky child)
  • Boksunga (peach)
  • Bomi (spring)

B, continued

  • Bomul (treasure)
  • Bomuldanji (pot of treasure)
  • Bora nuna
  • Boseogi (jewel)
  • Bubanjang (class vice president)
  • Bueongi (owl)
  • Buin (wife; a husband's polite word)
  • Bungeoppang (fish-shaped pastry; the image of a parent)
  • Bunwigi meikeo (mood maker)
  • Byeol (star)
  • Byeolbit (starlight)
  • Byeondeokjaengi (fickle type)
  • Byeongari (chick)
  • Byeori (star)

C: 23 names

  • Chadonam (cool city guy)
  • Chaekbeolle (bookworm)
  • Chaeyeong-a
  • Chaltteogi (sticky rice cake; holding on tight)
  • Chamsae (sparrow; a small chatterbox)
  • Chan-i (Yechan)
  • Chapssaltteok (sticky rice cake; an inseparable pair)
  • Cheokcheokbaksa (has an answer for everything)
  • Cheol-i (Seungcheol)
  • Cheolbuji (has not grown up yet)
  • Cheolsu samchon

C, continued

  • Cheonggaeguri (tree frog; a contrary child)
  • Cheonjae (genius)
  • Cheonsa (angel)
  • Cheotsarang (first love)
  • Chingu (friend)
  • Chobo (beginner)
  • Choego (the best; pun on the surname Choe, or Choi)
  • Chongmu (keeps the group's money)
  • Chorongi (bright, sparkling eyes)
  • Chukbogi (blessing)
  • Chukgugwang (soccer fanatic)
  • Chumkkun (great dancer)

D: 27 names

  • Daebagi (jackpot)
  • Daejang (captain, leader)
  • Daengdaengi (doggy, internet slang)
  • Dal (moon)
  • Dalbit (moonlight)
  • Dalkongi (the twin of Alkongi)
  • Dalling (darling, from English)
  • Dalpaengi (snail)
  • Dam-i (Yedam)
  • Dana-ya
  • Danbi (welcome rain)
  • Dangsin (you, between spouses)
  • Danjjak (inseparable friend)

D, continued

  • Daramjwi (chipmunk, squirrel)
  • Darin (master of a skill)
  • Deolleongi (scatterbrain)
  • Dodami (growing up well)
  • Dokkaebi (goblin; a mischief-maker)
  • Dokseogwang (avid reader)
  • Dolgorae (dolphin)
  • Dongan (baby face)
  • Donggi (joined the same year)
  • Dongsaeng (younger sibling)
  • Dosa (guru)
  • Dotori (acorn)
  • Doyun appa (Doyun's dad)
  • Dwaeji (pig; teasing a big eater)

E: 12 names

  • Eiseu (ace)
  • Eoljjang (best face)
  • Eomchina (mom's friend's son; the perfect guy)
  • Eomchinttal (mom's friend's daughter; the perfect girl)
  • Eomjigongju (Thumbelina)
  • Eongttungi (oddball)
  • Eonni (older sister, said by a woman)
  • Eumchi (tone-deaf singer)
  • Eun-i (Jieun)
  • Eunji eonni
  • Eunju imo
  • Eunu appa (Eunu's dad)

G: 47 names

  • Gaegujaengi (rascal)
  • Gaeguri (frog)
  • Gaemi (ant; a hard worker)
  • Gaeuri (autumn)
  • Gamja (potato)
  • Gamseongpa (sentimental type)
  • Gangaji (puppy)
  • Gangnaengi (corn; pun on the surname Gang, or Kang)
  • Geeureumbaengi (lazybones)
  • Geobugi (turtle)
  • Geongangi (good health)

G, continued

  • Geonu hyeong
  • Geopjaengi (scaredy-cat)
  • Geumdongi (golden child)
  • Geumsappa (falls in love fast)
  • Geun-i (Seunggeun)
  • Gigyechi (hopeless with machines)
  • Gijeogi (miracle)
  • Gil-i (Yeonggil)
  • Gilchi (no sense of direction)
  • Gimbap (seaweed rice roll; pun on the surname Gim, or Kim)
  • Gimchi (kimchi; pun on the surname Gim, or Kim)
  • Gippeumi (joy)

G, continued

  • Girin (giraffe)
  • Goguma (sweet potato; pun on the surname Go)
  • Gojipjaengi (stubborn mule)
  • Gom (bear)
  • Gomdori (teddy bear)
  • Gomsuni (girl teddy bear)
  • Gongbubeolle (study bug)
  • Gongju (princess; pun on the surname Gong)
  • Gongjubyeong (princess complex)
  • Gongjunim (princess)
  • Gopseulmeori (curly hair)
  • Gorae (whale)

G, continued

  • Goseumdochi (hedgehog)
  • Gosu (master, expert)
  • Goyangi (cat)
  • Guk-i (Jongguk)
  • Gwangsu samchon
  • Gwiyeomdungi (cutie pie)
  • Gwiyomi (cutie)
  • Gyeol-i (Hangyeol)
  • Gyeong-i (Mingyeong)
  • Gyeouri (winter)
  • Gyu (Gyuhyeon)
  • Gyul (tangerine)

H: 41 names

  • Haebaragi (sunflower; devoted to one person)
  • Haemseuteo (hamster)
  • Haengbogi (happiness)
  • Haengdongpa (acts first)
  • Haetbyeongari (fledgling, greenhorn)
  • Haetsal (sunshine)
  • Haetsari (sunshine)
  • Hajun appa (Hajun's dad)
  • Hama (hippo)
  • Hana eonni
  • Hana ssaem
  • Haneuri (sky)
  • Heodang (looks capable, turns out clumsy)

H, continued

  • Heoni (honey, from English)
  • Heopungjaengi (teller of tall tales)
  • Heungbu (the kind brother of the folktale)
  • Ho-ya (Minho)
  • Hobak (pumpkin; pun on the surname Bak, or Park)
  • Hodu (walnut)
  • Hoejangnim (chairman; joking title)
  • Hongdangmu (carrot; pun on the surname Hong)
  • Hongsi (ripe persimmon; pun on the surname Hong)
  • Hoppang (steamed bun; a round face)
  • Horangi (tiger)
  • Hubae (junior)
  • Huimangi (hope)
  • Hun-i (Jihun)

H, continued

  • Hunnam (warm, good-looking guy)
  • Hunnyeo (warm, good-looking woman)
  • Hwan-i (Jihwan)
  • Hwanggeum (gold; pun on the surname Hwang)
  • Hwangso (bull)
  • Hyeok-i (Jaehyeok)
  • Hyeon-i (Dahyeon)
  • Hyeong (older brother, said by a man)
  • Hyeonga (big brother, as small boys say it)
  • Hyeongnim (older brother, respectful)
  • Hyeonjun-a
  • Hyeonu oppa
  • Hyoja (devoted son)
  • Hyonyeo (devoted daughter)

I: 8 names

  • Ilbeolle (workaholic)
  • Imja (dear, between older spouses)
  • Ingkko (parakeet; a lovey-dovey couple)
  • Inho hyeong
  • Inho ssaem
  • Injeolmi (bean-powder rice cake)
  • Inssa (insider; the popular type)
  • Iyagikkun (storyteller)

J: 44 names

  • Jaejukkun (has many talents)
  • Jaerongdungi (little charmer)
  • Jaewon-a
  • Jagi (honey, darling)
  • Jagiya (honey, when calling)
  • Jambo (sleepyhead)
  • Jamkkureogi (sleepyhead)
  • Janggu (hourglass drum; pun on the surname Jang)
  • Jangnankkureogi (prankster)
  • Jeonbotdae (utility pole; very tall)
  • Jeong-i (Minjeong)
  • Jia eomma (Jia's mom)
  • Jiae imo
  • Jiho oppa

J, continued

  • Jiho seonbae
  • Jihye nuna
  • Jimin-a
  • Jimin-i
  • Jin-i (Yujin)
  • Jindotgae (Jindo dog)
  • Jinu oppa
  • Jipdori (homebody, male)
  • Jipsuni (homebody, female)
  • Jisu eonni
  • Jisu-ya
  • Jiu eomma (Jiu's mom)
  • Jiu-ya
  • Jiyeon-a
  • Jiyu eomma (Jiyu's mom)

J, continued

  • Jiyu-ya
  • Jjak (partner, match)
  • Jjakkung (deskmate, buddy)
  • Jjang (the best)
  • Jjinppang (steamed bun; soft round cheeks)
  • Jjong (Jongmin)
  • Jjun-i (Seojun)
  • Jogae (clam; pun on the surname Jo, or Cho)
  • Jugeunkkae (freckles)
  • Juhui-ya
  • Juingong (main character)
  • Jujang (team captain)
  • Jun-i (Seojun)
  • Junho oppa
  • Junseo appa (Junseo's dad)

K: 27 names

  • Keunadeul (eldest son)
  • Keunttal (eldest daughter)
  • Kidari (long legs)
  • Kkakjaengi (shrewd city type)
  • Kkalkkeumi (neat freak)
  • Kkamjjigi (cute little thing)
  • Kkanbu (trusted ally in childhood games)
  • Kkeokdari (beanpole)
  • Kkoebo (clever trickster)
  • Kkoma (little one)
  • Kkomaengi (little kid)
  • Kkomkkomi (careful, thorough type)
  • Kkomuri (little wriggler)

K, continued

  • Kkonminam (flower boy, pretty boy)
  • Kkot (flower)
  • Kkotsaseum (sika deer; gentle big eyes)
  • Kkul (honey)
  • Kkulbeol (honeybee)
  • Kkulkkuri (oinker, piggy)
  • Kkumi (dream)
  • Kkumnamu (dream tree; a promising youngster)
  • Kkumteuri (wriggler)
  • Koalla (koala)
  • Kokkiri (elephant)
  • Kong (bean)
  • Kongi (little bean)
  • Kongnamul (bean sprout; tall and thin)

M: 35 names

  • Makdungi (last-born of the family)
  • Mallakkaengi (skinny kid)
  • Mallangi (soft and squishy)
  • Malsseongjaengi (troublemaker)
  • Mandu (dumpling; chubby cheeks)
  • Maneul (garlic; pun on the surname Ma)
  • Mangnae (the youngest; often written maknae)
  • Manmulbaksa (walking encyclopedia)
  • Manura (wife, among older couples)
  • Meokbo (big eater)
  • Meongmeongi (doggy)

M, continued

  • Meotjaengi (stylish dresser)
  • Mideumi (faith)
  • Min-i (Jimin)
  • Mina nuna
  • Minam (handsome man)
  • Mindeulle (dandelion)
  • Minho oppa
  • Minho-ya
  • Minjae hyeong
  • Minjae seonbae
  • Minjun-a
  • Minseo eomma (Minseo's mom)

M, continued

  • Minsu hyeong
  • Minyeo (beauty)
  • Mirae imo
  • Mireu (old Korean word for dragon)
  • Mobeomsaeng (model student)
  • Momchi (cannot dance)
  • Momjjang (great physique)
  • Mongsiri (soft and fluffy)
  • Mudangbeolle (ladybug)
  • Mulgae (seal; a strong swimmer)
  • Muneo (octopus; pun on the surname Mun, or Moon)
  • Myeolchi (anchovy; a skinny person)

N: 24 names

  • Nabi (butterfly; also a classic cat name)
  • Nae banjjok (my other half)
  • Nae bomul (my treasure)
  • Nae cheonsa (my angel)
  • Nae kkeo (mine)
  • Nae pyeon (the one on my side)
  • Nae saram (my person)
  • Nae sarang (my love)
  • Nam-i (Yeongnam)
  • Namuneulbo (sloth)
  • Nanggun (husband, in the style of old tales)
  • Nara-ya

N, continued

  • Nari nuna
  • Nari-ya
  • Neoguri (raccoon dog)
  • Neukdae (wolf)
  • Neurimbo (slowpoke)
  • Neutdungi (child born late to older parents)
  • Nolbu (the greedy brother of the folktale)
  • Noryeokpa (gets there by hard work)
  • Nuna (older sister, said by a man)
  • Nunim (older sister, respectful)
  • Nunsaram (snowman)
  • Nyangi (kitty, from the sound nyang)

O: 9 names

  • Oi (cucumber; pun on the surname O, or Oh)
  • Ojingeo (squid; pun on the surname O, or Oh)
  • Ok-i (Yeongok)
  • Okja gomo
  • Olchaengi (tadpole)
  • Olppaemi (owl; a night owl)
  • Oppa (older brother, said by a woman)
  • Orabeoni (older brother, old-fashioned, said by a woman)
  • Ori (duck)

P: 7 names

  • Panda (panda)
  • Penggwin (penguin)
  • Podongi (plump and cuddly)
  • Ppalgangmeori (redhead)
  • Ppangdori (bread lover, male)
  • Ppangsuni (bread lover, female)
  • Ppogeulmeori (curly perm)

R: 4 names

  • Ram-i (Boram)
  • Ran-i (Yeongran)
  • Rim-i (Yerim)
  • Rin-i (Yerin)

S: 67 names

  • Sachawon (fourth dimension; a quirky mind)
  • Saebomi (new spring)
  • Saechimdegi (coy, prim type)
  • Saem-i (Hansaem)
  • Saenaegi (freshman, newbie)
  • Saessak (sprout)
  • Sajangnim (boss)
  • Sallimkkun (good at running a home)
  • Sanghyeon-a
  • Sapsari (shaggy Sapsali dog)
  • Sarangdungi (lovable child)
  • Sarangi (love)
  • Sarangkkun (devoted romantic)

S, continued

  • Saseum (deer)
  • Satang (candy)
  • Seoa eomma (Seoa's mom)
  • Seoa-ya
  • Seobangnim (husband, old-fashioned)
  • Seok-i (Jaeseok)
  • Seollemi (flutter of excitement)
  • Seon-i (Yeseon)
  • Seonbae (senior at school or work)
  • Seonbaenim (senior, respectful)
  • Seong-i (Useong)
  • Seongjin-a
  • Seonmuri (gift)

S, continued

  • Seonsaengnim (teacher)
  • Seonu hyeong
  • Seonyeong-a
  • Seop-i (Minseop)
  • Seoyeon halmeoni (Seoyeon's grandma)
  • Seul-i (Yeseul)
  • Seulgi-ya
  • Seungmin-a
  • Sik-i (Yeongsik)
  • Sillang (groom; a wife's word for her husband)
  • Simcheong (the devoted daughter of the folktale)
  • Simsuljaengi (grouch)
  • Sinbal (shoe; pun on the surname Sin, or Shin)
  • Sinderella (Cinderella; has a curfew)

S, continued

  • Siu eomma (Siu's mom)
  • Sohui-ya
  • Sol-i (Hansol)
  • Somangi (wish, hope)
  • Somsatang (cotton candy)
  • Songaji (calf)
  • Songpyeon (half-moon rice cake; pun on the surname Song)
  • Sora eonni
  • Sora seonbae
  • Soyeon-a
  • Ssaem (teach; short for seonsaengnim)
  • Ssangdungi (twin)
  • Ssikssigi (brave, lively kid)

S, continued

  • Ssu (Jisu)
  • Ssukssugi (growing fast)
  • Su-ya (Minsu)
  • Sua eonni
  • Sua-ya
  • Subak (watermelon; pun on the surname Bak, or Park)
  • Sudajaengi (chatterbox)
  • Sudal (otter)
  • Sujin-a
  • Suk-i (Jeongsuk)
  • Sun-i (Geumsun)
  • Sundubu (soft tofu; a softie)
  • Sundungi (gentle, easygoing child)
  • Sunja imo

T: 14 names

  • Taeho oppa
  • Teolbo (bearded, hairy fellow)
  • Teunteuni (sturdy and healthy)
  • Tokkaengi (bunny)
  • Tokki (rabbit)
  • Tongtongi (chubby, said fondly)
  • Tori (little acorn)
  • Ttal (daughter, as a call)
  • Ttalgi (strawberry)
  • Ttangkkoma (tiny kid)
  • Ttangkong (peanut; a short person)
  • Ttejaengi (whines to get their way)
  • Ttokttogi (smarty)
  • Ttolttori (bright kid)

U: 12 names

  • Uiripa (loyal to friends)
  • Ujin-a
  • Uk-i (Donguk)
  • Ulbo (crybaby)
  • Ung-i (Jaeung)
  • Uri adeul (our son)
  • Uri aegi (our baby)
  • Uri gangaji (our puppy; said to a child or grandchild)
  • Uri gongju (our princess)
  • Uri kkoma (our little one)
  • Uri ttal (our daughter)
  • Uri wangja (our prince)

W: 6 names

  • Wangjabyeong (prince complex)
  • Wangjanim (prince)
  • Wangnuni (big eyes)
  • Won-i (Chaewon)
  • Wonang (mandarin duck; a devoted couple)
  • Wonsungi (monkey)

Y: 39 names

  • Yagugwang (baseball fanatic)
  • Yangpa (onion; pun on the surname Yang)
  • Yaongi (kitty)
  • Yeji nuna
  • Yeji-ya
  • Yejun-a
  • Yeobo (dear, between spouses)
  • Yeobong (cutesy form of Yeobo)
  • Yeol-i (Chanyeol)
  • Yeolmae (fruit)
  • Yeon-i (Seoyeon)
  • Yeong-i (Jiyeong)
  • Yeonggam (old man; an older wife's word for her husband)

Y, continued

  • Yeongho samchon
  • Yeonghwagwang (film buff)
  • Yeongja gomo
  • Yeongjae (gifted child)
  • Yeongsu samchon
  • Yeonseupbeolle (never stops practicing)
  • Yeonu appa (Yeonu's dad)
  • Yeop-i (Seungyeop)
  • Yeoreumi (summer)
  • Yeosin (goddess; a great beauty)
  • Yeou (fox; a sly charmer)
  • Yeppeuni (pretty girl)
  • Yeseo eomma (Yeseo's mom)

Y, continued

  • Yojeong (fairy)
  • Yoksimjaengi (greedy-guts)
  • Yongi (dragon)
  • Yuja (citron; pun on the surname Yu)
  • Yul-i (Soyul)
  • Yumangju (rising prospect)
  • Yun-i (Doyun)
  • Yuna eonni
  • Yuna seonbae
  • Yunho hyeong
  • Yunseo appa (Yunseo's dad)
  • Yuri nuna
  • Yuri ssaem