These 20 Funny Korean Names Will Definitely Make You Laugh

Happy Asian woman laughing while lying on the bed using smartphone mobile at home

What’s in a name?

Koreans are known to have beautiful and meaningful names. In fact, names hold a lot of power in Korean culture. Many believe that your name will dictate who you will be when you grow up.

That’s why parents take extra care to name their kids something meaningful. Some common Korean names are 슬기 (“Seul-Gi”) meaning “wisdom,” and 민호 (“Min-Ho”) meaning “bright and good.”

Write with a calligraphy brush

Many Koreans even believe that changing their names will also change their fates. That’s why when people feel unlucky, they go to a fortune teller to have their names changed.

But for foreigners, some Korean names can sound a little funny. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 20 names that will definitely make you laugh.

Whether it’s because of how they sound in English, or because of what they mean when translated, these names are definitely unique.

If you want to know about these special names, read on!

1. Ee Chi-Bum

Women with itchy butt

Now that’s an itch you can’t scratch!

While totally normal in Korea, this name is unfortunate if read by English speakers. If we were Ee Chi-Bum, we definitely wouldn’t be applying for study abroad programs anytime soon.

2. Oh Yoo-Suk

Front view of a little Asian boy making a face and talking to the camera video calling video conference with his friend and family during the pandemic lockdown.

A name that doubles as an insult! This is another one of those names that only sound funny if read in English.

3. Kim Chi-Kook

Kimchi

Do you think Kim Chi-Kook grew up to be a Kimchi Cook?

Read More: Discover Gimjang – The Traditional Way To Make Kimchi

4. Lee Ki-Bum

Man suffers from diarrhea holds toilet paper roll in front of toilet bowl.

Mr. Lee, you may want to get that checked at the doctor. Does anyone know a doctor specializing in diarrhea?

5. Yoo Suk-Mee

Embarrassed and blind woman on white background

Now, now, Mr. Yoo. You’re being too forward. At least take us to dinner first!

6. Kim Shi-Bal

Portrait of young Asian businessman shouting with megaphone, mad yelling screaming crazy supporting motivating concept, over grey background

If you didn’t know, Shi-Bal means something very offensive in Korean–as in, the F word!

Mr. Kim’s parents must have been in a bad mood when he was born. Yikes!

7. Kim Su-Hak

Asian teacher teaching math on chalkboard

At first glance, this name sounds pretty normal. However, Su-Hak actually means math!

The funny thing is, the man who has this name eventually became a teacher. But the plot twist? He taught languages, not math!

8. Ahn Tae-Na

Green Birdwing Butterfly, isolated on white background

Let’s hope Mr. Ahn loves bugs and creepy-crawlies!

9. Na Roo-To

Naruto Cosplay

Anime is very popular in Korea. That might have been either a good thing or a bad thing for Mr. Na. But we hope he lives up to his legendary namesake!

10. Kook Young-Su

Woman reading book and holding her coffee in home office.

This one sounds like just a cute normal name. But actually, this name is a common acronym which stands for Korean Language (Kook-Eo), English Language (Young-Eo) and Math (Su-Hak).

AKA Kook-Young-Su!

Who knows? Maybe having such an academic name made Ms. Kook a better student!

11. “More Lovable Than the Sky, Stars, Clouds, and the Sun” Park

Asian Parents kissing their little daughter on both cheeks. family portrait.

Yes, you read that right. “박하늘별님구름햇님보다사랑스러우리” literally translates to that very long name. While Ms. Park’s parents definitely had lovely intentions when naming her, she must have had a difficult time at school.

Her full name is a whopping 17 characters!

This unusual name received so much attention that it eventually changed the law itself. Now, Koreans are only allowed to have names of up to five characters.

12. “The Child of God Who Grew Up Pretty, Sincere, and Understanding” Park

Portrait of happy Asian family spending time together on sofa in living room. family and home concept.

Meet Ms. Park’s older sister. Their parents definitely had a unique sense of humor. Just look at what they named their two daughters!

Even though the Park Sisters may have been teased a lot for their names, we can’t deny that they have such sweet meanings.

13. “The Golden Eagle Surprises the Whole World” Hwang

Man raise hand up on top of mountain and sunset sky star with eagle bird fly abstract background. Copy space freedom travel adventure and business victory concept. Vintage tone filter effect color style.

This is another one of those extremely long and unusual Korean names. While it must have given him a hard time, we still want to congratulate Mr. Hwang for having one cool name!

14. The Song Triplets

BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA - OCTOBER 12: South Korean actor Song Il-Kook attends the Opening Ceremony of the 22nd Busan International Film Festival on October 12, 2017 in Busan, South Korea. (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/WireImage)

You might recognize these adorable triplets from the show The Return of Superman! These celebrity kiddos are widely beloved and known for being actor Song Il-Kook’s sons.

But did you know their names actually have a special meaning? Il-Kook named his three sons “Dae-Han,” “Min-Kook,” and “Man-Sae.” When read altogether, the names mean “Long live the Republic of Korea!”

As a bonus, Il-Kook’s name also has a pretty cool backstory. It means “one country.” It looks like special names run in the family!

15. NewJeans

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - OCTOBER 21: Danielle, Hanni, Hyein, Minji and Haerin of girl group NewJeans attend during the Coca-Cola Creation X ARTE MUSEUM limited edition 'Coca-Cola Zero Dreamworld' Pop-up store opening event on October 21, 2022 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/WireImage)

NewJeans had to make it to our list of the best funny Korean names!

Indeed, Kpop groups can also have some pretty unusual names. This monster rookie definitely drew a lot of Attention (get it?) during their debut.

Aside from their fresh visuals and high-teen concepts, netizens also had a lot to say about their unusual name. Some fans even said it sounds like a new denim brand.

Even though it might have been weird at first, now fans adore the group’s name. They say it suits the girl group’s concepts perfectly!

16. Gugudan

Gugudan

This lovely girl group also has a pretty quirky name. Gugudan literally translates to “multiplication table.” We guess that means these girls have multiple charms!

17. Mamamoo

Mamamoo

Mamamoo is one of Korea’s most popular and beloved girl groups. While known for their powerhouse vocals, they first caught attention with their unusual name.

Because “Mamamoo” sounds like baby talk, the group said it means trying new things instinctively like a baby.

Even the Mamamoo members didn’t like the name at first. But now, they’re proud to have such a unique name.

18. MBLAQ

MBLAQ Kpop Group

MBLAQ is one of the most famous boy groups of 2nd Generation Kpop. However, not a lot of people know that their group name is actually an acronym!

The name actually stands for “Music Boys Live in Absolute Quality.” That probably sounded too long and quirky, so they went by MBLAQ instead.

19. Crying Nut

Crying Nut

Believe it or not, Crying Nut is the name of one of the most beloved bands in South Korea. It may sound a little weird, but it definitely suits this quirky punk band’s vibe!

20. SuperM

Super M

Last but not least is this internationally-acclaimed super-group!

SuperM is known as the “Avengers of Kpop” which makes sense with their name. The word “Super” with the letter “M” is also an homage to SM Entertainment, the company they belong to.

Unfortunately, the name is spelled similarly to something vulgar in English!

Despite that, SuperM is beloved by fans all around the world. Many have even grown to love the group’s unique name.

What did you think of these funny Korean names? Don’t forget to tell us which one was your favorite!

These names may sound a bit weird or funny for non-Koreans. We can laugh, but we still have to be respectful. Remember that this is just for fun!

Wanna know more things about Korean culture? Read these 20 beautiful Korean sayings and check out these 15 surprising Korean superstitions.

No Comments Yet

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.