Winter of Ok-pop woman group aespa poses for reporters, Oct. 16, 2025. Xportsnews
Have you ever ever puzzled why a few of your favourite Ok-pop idols do not use their actual names? Earlier than debuting, idols are sometimes given the choice to decide on a stage identify. This isn’t solely to differentiate themselves from different idols who might share the identical Korean identify, but additionally to enchantment to worldwide followers by utilizing names which are simpler for world audiences to pronounce.
A distinguished instance is Winter of Ok-pop woman group aespa, whose actual identify is Kim Min-jeong. On a radio present, Winter shared that her company, SM Leisure, introduced her with a number of stage identify choices, comparable to Baekseul, Younger Received and Moa. In the end, she selected Winter as a result of it greatest matched her picture, whereas additionally bearing in mind her birthday through the coldest season. The identify additionally helped her stand out within the aggressive Ok-pop trade, giving her a catchy, globally interesting moniker.
Winter’s alternative of identify is according to a broader shift in naming practices that reach past the leisure trade. Many Koreans in the present day are more and more drawn to names that replicate shifting developments and life in an period of globalization.
What’s in a reputation?
A reputation is usually the primary reward mother and father give their baby, mirroring the era wherein the kid is born. When scrolling by way of class rosters, movie star information or on-line child identify lists, it turns into clear that the names chosen in the present day differ from these of earlier generations.
In Korea, naming practices have advanced together with the tradition. Conventional Korean naming conventions, the that means behind names and fashionable influences all play a job in how mother and father select names in the present day.
Korean given names normally include two syllables, which mixed with the household identify, kind a three-syllable full identify. Not like many Western naming conventions, Korean names put the household first, adopted by the given identify. For instance, as an alternative of claiming “Eun-woo Cha,” Koreans would say “Cha Eun-woo.” Private names with only one syllable or greater than two syllables exist, however they don’t seem to be as frequent. Likewise, some household names are a couple of syllable.
Koreans do not need “center” names. The given identify is the person’s full private identify.
How mother and father used to call their kids
Naming a toddler has carried deep cultural and symbolic that means all through Korean historical past.
Many Korean names have been created utilizing hanja (Chinese language characters), with every character chosen for its particular that means. Though official data nonetheless permit using hanja, many individuals use solely the Hangeul spelling. Some frequent examples embody “Yong,” that means dragon, and “Mi”, that means magnificence. These meanings have been believed to affect a toddler’s character and future.
Whereas in addition they have a protracted historical past, names utilizing that do not draw on Chinese language characters, however as an alternative use native Korean phrases, have grown in recognition. Names comparable to “Areum” (magnificence) and “Sarang” (love) replicate this linguistic and cultural shift.
A pair getting their fortune informed / Courtesy of Korea Simple Journey
Fortune tellers, naming traditions
The streets of Hongdae and Myeong-dong in Seoul are lined with “saju” stalls, the place folks can have their fortunes informed. Whereas many individuals go to them merely for enjoyable or curiosity, some mother and father go together with a extra essential function in thoughts, hoping to decide on an auspicious identify for his or her offspring.
Historically, many mother and father relied on fortune tellers when selecting their kids’s names. Saju, a conventional Korean fortune-telling system rooted in Chinese language metaphysics, analyzes an individual’s start yr, month, day and hour (referred to as the “4 pillars”) to supply insights into an individual’s future, relationships, character and luck. Since names are believed to affect a toddler’s future, some folks work with fortune tellers to pick names they hope will result in success and counter any weaknesses or dangerous luck.
Generational characters
Up to now, when giant prolonged households have been frequent, shared names helped establish generational hierarchy inside a clan. These characters weren’t chosen by mother and father however have been predetermined by household lineage and integrated within the names chosen for all kids born in a specific era.
Generational names allowed family members who have been typically unfold throughout totally different areas to simply acknowledge whether or not somebody belonged to an older or youthful era, serving to keep social order inside complicated household constructions.
In fashionable Korea, generational characters are sometimes seen as restrictive. Because the significance of clan identification and family tree has weakened, the necessity for shared generational characters has diminished.
Whereas using generational hanja characters has decreased in recent times, it’s nonetheless frequent for siblings to share one syllable of their given names. These might seem as both the primary or second syllable. For instance, siblings is likely to be named Ji-yeon and Ji-min, utilizing the identical “Ji” to mark their relationship.
Modifications in society
Generational character names have been traditionally seldom prolonged to women, additional limiting the character names’ relevance. These days, most Koreans not use them. Another excuse for his or her decline is the bounds they place on naming decisions, for the reason that required character considerably narrows the vary of potential names.
As society advanced and multigenerational households turned much less frequent, the significance of sustaining strict naming hierarchies additionally pale.
Jennie / Courtesy of OA Leisure
Fashionable approaches to naming kids
Though traditions like generational character names and consulting fortune tellers are nonetheless practiced by some households, modern Korean society has embraced new developments. As worldwide marriages have change into extra frequent, mother and father typically choose names that may comfortably exist throughout a number of cultures. Furthermore, with rising globalization and worldwide mobility, many mother and father select names which are straightforward to romanize and pronounce overseas. For instance, BLACKPINK’s Jennie has an English identify as her authorized identify.
Mother and father additionally contemplate phonetic concord and syllabic steadiness, ensuring the identify sounds pleasing. Because the household identify comes first, concord between the household identify and the primary syllable of the given identify is necessary.
Some individuals are impressed by their private pursuits, naming their kids for folks they admire or celebrities. Mother and father additionally attempt to keep away from names which may sound like phrases with unfavourable connotations with a view to keep away from bullying.
Recognition additionally performs a job. Based mostly on information from the Digital Household Relationship Registration System, names that includes the “s” sound, comparable to Search engine optimization-yun, Search engine optimization-a and I-seo, have been particularly favored in 2025.
This shift in names turned much more obvious with the “Kancho problem,” which gained vital recognition amongst younger Koreans final yr.
BTS member Jung Kook reads out a number of names out of the five hundred names stamped on Kancho Choco Biscuits in a livestream / Courtesy of Weverse
BTS member Jung Kook and different Ok-pop idols introduced the “Kancho problem” to a worldwide viewers, trying to find their very own names throughout reside broadcasts. Kancho, a Korean snack, celebrated its fortieth anniversary with a “discover my identify” problem, printing 500 of the most typical Korean names from 2008 to 2025 on their cookies.
Nonetheless, Jung Kook could not discover his identify within the field of biscuits, as his identify was not included within the checklist. Like him, many different Koreans who had extra distinctive names have been dissatisfied.
Whereas Korean naming practices have modified by way of the years, what stays fixed is the deep significance and thought that goes into creating folks’s names.
Names function a strong connection between previous, current and future. In Korea, naming practices replicate centuries of custom whereas constantly adapting to social change, globalization and particular person expression. As society evolves, so too do the names we give — preserving heritage whereas embracing new identities.
Kim Sur-hyun is a Korea Occasions intern.
