Korean Job Discussion Forums

cazzy3 · Joined: 07 May 2008 Location: kangwon-do

so my wife and i are expecting next spring and we've been trying to come up w/ names for a boy or a girl. we're definitely looking to stay away from names that can be ridiculed from a western perspective (석미, 영주, et. al) and any of the other laughable ones you can come up with.

ultimately, we'd like a name that works in both languages such as 재미 or Jamie. any suggestions??

*for any fellow Seinfeld fans out there, maybe we'll just name the baby "7"

jdog2050 · Joined: 17 Dec 2006

Horangi Munshin · Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Location: Busan

There is Hannah (하나) of course!

You are limiting yourselves.

politica · Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Location: Suwon-si

I don't think this is limiting. Names are important. Nothing sucks more than living in a foreign country with a difficult name.

I'm personally a few years away from thinking about baby names, but I know that I'll want a simple name that's easy in many languages. I mean, you're living in Korea, but who knows where your child will be living as an adult?

I'm not sure about boys' names, but I have always like "Mia" for a girl. I have yet to find a language that cannot pronounce it . . .

Jeff's Cigarettes · Joined: 27 Mar 2007

Halfghost.

prideofidaho · Joined: 19 Mar 2008

I used to teach two kids who grew up in the states. Their names were Samuel and Maria...can't type the hangeul here, but it worked both ways.

My full name doesn't work, but many do.

good luck with the baba! Wink

The Grumpy Senator · Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Location: Up and down the 6 line

The little one to the left is named Bailey. My wife and I also decided on one name-route for our daughter and only considered names that would work in Korean as well.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Jina and Mina sound normal in both languages. Jamie sounds a little odd I think.

Otherside · Joined: 06 Sep 2007

I don't believe you HAVE to pick names which are perfect in both korean and English. Sarah, Hannah and Eugene are a few that fit this category. Any name that you like, and works is fine, eg. Nami, Mina, Jin etc (some korean examples which NO ONE will struggle to pronounce), however, it's best to stray away from names which:
A. will lead to ridicule: eg. Suck me, Bum Suck, Britney
B. Impossible to pronounce in one of the languages, eg. Ralph, 근의, etc

Roving_gypsy_gurl · Joined: 29 Nov 2007

Jinnie seems to work for girls in both cultures. Emmy is another one that works both ways.

Boys are harder to find names for in this instance, I think.

NoExplode · Joined: 15 Oct 2008

Stop pandering to Korea.

jvalmer · Joined: 06 Jun 2003

민아, 진아, 미란, 미래, 사론 (i like this name), 세론, 제라

GreenlightmeansGO · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Location: Daegu

What about...애린 (Aaron...close)...
에린(Erin)...
태리(Terry)...
태린 (Taryn...kinda)...
엠마 (Emma)
티나(Tina)
에릭 (Eric)
리키 (Ricky)
재손 or 재선 (Jason)
윌럄 (William...but it may sound strange to a Korean)

And if you want to use more syllables:

사이먼 (Simon)

Also...Haneul (Sky blue) is now apparently an English name as well (someone mentioned it in the distant past).

If the name has 준 in it you could call the child 'June' in English. Same for 린 and Lin (or Rin, if you're into being different).

How about 한솔...in English you could say 'Han Solo'
Laughing

Good luck.

Horangi Munshin · Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Location: Busan

By all means do not choose a name that sounds strange or is too hard to pronounce in either language. But making sure a name is the same in both languages does limit you.

Jason in Hangul is 제이슨 (as it is said in English)
재선 ,would be Jae seon. Fine of course, but not if you want it pronounced Jason.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Koreans sometimes have 4 character names. It's not common, but not uncommon. I had a Lee An-ge-la.