Key Facts
- Hangul: 이름; Revised Romanization: ireum
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: Neutral. Honorific counterpart is 성함.
Name in Korean: What Does 이름 Mean?
이름 means name and is neutral. The honorific counterpart is 성함, used when you ask about another person's name. The word works the same in questions and statements. The stock question 이름이 뭐예요? and the introduction 제 이름은 민수예요 come as a pair, one asking and one answering. When the person is older or a customer, switch to 성함.
How Do You Pronounce 이름?
Two syllables, i-reum. The ㄹ between the vowels is a light tap, like the t in American "butter", and the second vowel ㅡ is unrounded, with the lips spread rather than pushed forward. Before a particle the ㅁ links across: 이름이 sounds like i-reu-mi.
Example Sentences with 이름
이름이 뭐예요?
Ireumi mwoyeyo?
What is your name?
The standard question, with 뭐예요 meaning "what is".
제 이름은 민수예요.
Je ireumeun minsuyeyo.
My name is Minsu.
A self-introduction with a sample given name.
이름을 써 주세요.
Ireumeul sseo juseyo.
Please write your name.
A request on a form, with 써 주세요 meaning "please write".
Common Phrases and Collocations
이름을 쓰다 is to write a name, 이름을 부르다 is to call a name, and 이름이 뭐예요? is the stock question.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 이름을 쓰다 | to write a name |
| 이름이 뭐예요? | What is your name? |
| 이름을 부르다 | to call a name |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ 이름이 뭐예요? (to someone older or senior)
Correct: ✓ 성함이 어떻게 되세요?
Why: 이름이 뭐예요? is fine with peers, but with an elder or a customer you should use the honorific noun 성함 and the softer question form.
이름 Compared with Similar Words
Three words around names differ by role.
| Word | Meaning | Contrast with name |
|---|---|---|
| 이름 | name | This page's word |
| 성함 | name (honorific) | Used for others' names to be respectful. |
| 성 | family name | Surname. |
| 별명 | nickname | Nickname. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
이름 is native Korean. In Korean names the family name comes first, then the given name, as in 김민수: 김 is the family name and 민수 the given name.
Giving Your Name at a Language School
A receptionist is checking a new student’s registration. The receptionist asks respectfully; the student uses the ordinary word for their own name.
Receptionist
성함이 어떻게 되세요?
Seonghami eotteoke doeseyo?
May I have your name?
Student
제 이름은 김민수예요.
Je ireumeun Gim Minsuyeyo.
My name is Kim Minsu.
Receptionist
여기에 이름을 써 주세요.
Yeogie ireumeul sseo juseyo.
Please write your name here.
Student
네, 여기요.
Ne, yeogiyo.
Yes, here you go.
성함 in the question honors the student. The student answers with 제 이름, because 성함 is for someone else’s name. The receptionist can still say 이름 when pointing to the name field on a form; the surrounding request is polite.
Where Will You See 이름 on Forms?
이름 is a common label on class worksheets, sign-up sheets and simple online forms. 성명 is another label for a full name, especially on official paperwork. Neither label asks for a nickname unless the form says so. A form that separates 성 and 이름 is asking for a family name and a given name in separate fields.
In ordinary conversation, 이름 can mean the whole name or the given name, depending on the question. At a reception desk, give the name used for your booking. Among classmates, a given name may be enough. The word itself does not tell you whether the listener needs your surname.
이름 is also used for things: pets, shops, songs and places all have names. 성함 belongs with people being honored, so a polite question about a café’s name still uses 이름. Respect for the listener does not turn the café into a person.
What Do Common Name Phrases Imply?
이름을 부르다 means to call someone’s name, for example during attendance or while looking for a friend. It can also mean addressing a person by name. With a teacher or manager, a title is often the appropriate way to address them, even after you know their name.
이름을 짓다 means to give or choose a name, as parents do for a baby or an owner does for a pet. The verb here is not about physically building something. 이름을 알리다 literally means “make a name known”; in stories about artists or athletes, it means becoming known to the public.
이름이 같다 means “have the same name.” Sharing a given name does not mean two people share a surname or are related. In a class with two students called 민수, a teacher may use full names to tell them apart.
Words beside the Name Field
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 성명 | full name | A formal label on documents. |
| 본명 | real name | Contrasts with a stage name or nickname. |
| 예명 | stage name | A name used professionally by a performer. |
| 서명 | signature | A request for a signature rather than just a printed name. |
The guide to Korean names explains the family-name and given-name pattern. On a document, read the field label before deciding whether to print your full name or sign it.
Quick Self-Test
- Which noun should you use for your own name: 이름 or 성함?
- A form separates 성 and 이름. What goes in the 성 field?
- Does 이름을 짓다 mean writing a name on a form?
Show answers
- 이름. Use 성함 to honor another person.
- The family name.
- No. It means giving or choosing a name; 이름을 쓰다 means writing one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "name" in Korean?
Name in Korean is 이름 (ireum). Ask 이름이 뭐예요? (What is your name?) and answer 제 이름은 민수예요 (My name is Minsu).
How do you ask someone's name politely?
Use the honorific noun 성함: 성함이 어떻게 되세요? It fits elders, teachers and customers.
Which order do Korean names take?
Family name first, then given name, as in 김민수. Most Korean family names are a single syllable.
What is a nickname?
A nickname is 별명. Use 이름 for a person's real name and 별명 for a name friends give them.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Relationships groups 이름 with its neighbours.
- Browse the Korean words A to Z index for words near name.
- Drill name in the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- This page teaches the word 이름. For Korean names themselves, with family names, given names and naming customs, see Korean names.