How to write your name in Korean
To write your name in Korean, you spell how it sounds with Hangul letters, one syllable block at a time. Fernando becomes 페르난도 (pe-reu-nan-do), and Emma becomes 엠마 (em-ma).
Write the sound, not the spelling
Hangul writes sounds. So a name is spelled by how it is said, not by its letters. The same written name can come out differently: Andrea said the English way is 앤드리아, and said the Spanish way it is 안드레아.
One block per syllable
Each block is a consonant and a vowel, sometimes with a consonant at the bottom. 페 is ㅍ + ㅔ, and 난 is ㄴ + ㅏ + ㄴ. A block always starts with a consonant; when a syllable starts with a vowel sound, the silent ㅇ fills that spot, as in 엠 (Em).
Sounds Korean doesn't have
Korean has no f, v, z or th sounds, so the closest letter is used: f → ㅍ (Sophia 소피아), v → ㅂ (Olivia 올리비아), z → ㅈ (Zoe 조이), th → ㅅ (Matthew 매슈).
Korean also has one letter, ㄹ, for both r and l: Laura is 로라 and Ryan is 라이언.
An extra “eu” between consonants
Korean syllables don't stack consonants the way English does. When two consonants meet, the vowel ㅡ (eu) is added to make a new block: Christopher is 크리스토퍼 (keu-ri-seu-to-peo), and the r in Fernando becomes 르 (reu).
Only some letters end a syllable
In foreign words, only ㄱ ㄴ ㄹ ㅁ ㅂ ㅅ ㅇ are used at the bottom of a block. That is why Jack is 잭 but Mark is 마크, with its own block for the k sound.
Why there can be two spellings
Korea has official rules for spelling foreign words, and everyday usage sometimes differs from them. Matthew is written 매슈 by the rules and often 매튜 in practice; Emma is often 엠마 and sometimes 에마. Koreans will understand either.
Your name in Hangul is not a Korean name
Spelling your name in Hangul keeps your own name. A Korean name is different: usually a family name plus a two-syllable given name, often with hanja (Chinese characters) that carry a meaning. Ireum finds real Korean names that sound or mean like yours.
Examples
Tap a name to see its Korean name too.
Questions
How do I write my name in Korean?
Spell how your name sounds with Hangul letters, one block per syllable. Fernando is 페르난도 and Emma is 엠마. Look up your name on Ireum to see its Hangul spelling.
Why is my name spelled differently in different places?
Korea's official rules for foreign words and everyday usage don't always agree, so a name can have two spellings, like 매슈 and 매튜 for Matthew. Both are understood.
Is my name in Hangul the same as a Korean name?
No. It is your own name written in Korean letters. A Korean name is a name Koreans use, like 애나 (Ae-na) for Emma, usually with hanja meanings.
Type your name to see real Korean names that sound or mean like it.
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