Want to see your name written in beautiful Hangul characters? Whether you’re a K-pop fan, learning Korean, or just curious, converting your name to Korean is easier than you think—and pretty fun too.

Let me show you exactly how to write your name in Korean using simple rules anyone can follow.

Understanding Korean Name Rules

Before we convert your name, understand this: Korean names are phonetic. That means we’re not translating the meaning of your name—we’re matching the sounds of your name to Korean sounds.

For example:

Sarah doesn’t mean the same thing in Korean as English
We’re just writing the sound “Sa-rah” (사라) using Hangul

Important: Your Korean name might not sound exactly like your English name because Korean has different sounds than English.

Step 1: Break Your Name Into Sounds

Korean is written in syllables, not individual letters. Each syllable is a sound unit.

Example: Michael

English: Mi-chael (2 syllables)
Sounds: MI / KE / L
Korean: 마이클 (ma-i-keul) - 3 syllables

Your turn: Say your name slowly and clap for each syllable. That’s how many Hangul blocks you’ll need.

Step 2: Korean Sound Conversion Chart

Use this chart to find Korean characters that match your name’s sounds:

Consonants

English Sound	Korean	Example
b, p	ㅂ (b/p)	Ben = 벤
d, t	ㄷ (d/t)	David = 데이비드
g, k	ㄱ (g/k)	Kate = 케이트
j	ㅈ (j)	John = 존
s	ㅅ (s)	Sam = 샘
ch	ㅊ (ch)	Charlie = 찰리
m	ㅁ (m)	Mike = 마이크
n	ㄴ (n)	Nancy = 낸시
l, r	ㄹ (l/r)	Laura = 로라
h	ㅎ (h)	Harry = 해리
f	ㅍ (p)	Frank = 프랭크
v	ㅂ (b)	Victor = 빅터

Note: Korean doesn’t have separate f/v or l/r sounds, so we approximate.

Vowels

English Sound	Korean	Example
ah, a	ㅏ (a)	Amanda = 아만다
eh, e	ㅔ (e)	Emma = 엠마
ee, i	ㅣ (i)	Lisa = 리사
oh, o	ㅗ (o)	Tony = 토니
oo, u	ㅜ (u)	Luke = 루크
ay	ㅔ이 (ei)	Rachel = 레이첼
eye, ai	ㅏ이 (ai)	Ryan = 라이언

Step 3: Build Your Korean Name

Let’s walk through examples:

Example 1: Emily

Sounds: E-mi-ly

Conversion:

E = ㅔ (eh sound)
mi = ㅁ + ㅣ = 미
ly = ㄹ + ㅣ = 리

Result: 에밀리 (e-mil-li)

Example 2: David

Sounds: Day-vid

Conversion:

Day = ㄷ + ㅔ + 이 = 데이
vid = ㅂ + ㅣ + ㄷ = 비드

Result: 데이비드 (de-i-bi-deu)

Example 3: Jessica

Sounds: Jes-si-ca

Conversion:

Jes = ㅈ + ㅔ + ㅅ = 제스
si = ㅅ + ㅣ = 시
ca = ㅋ + ㅏ = 카

Result: 제시카 (je-shi-ka)

Common Names in Korean

Here are popular Western names already converted:

Male Names

James = 제임스 (je-im-seu)
John = 존 (jon)
Michael = 마이클 (ma-i-keul)
Robert = 로버트 (ro-beo-teu)
William = 윌리엄 (wil-li-eom)
Chris = 크리스 (keu-ri-seu)
Alex = 알렉스 (al-lek-seu)
Tom = 톰 (tom)
Ben = 벤 (ben)
Luke = 루크 (lu-keu)

Female Names

Sarah = 사라 (sa-ra)
Emma = 엠마 (em-ma)
Olivia = 올리비아 (ol-li-bi-a)
Sophia = 소피아 (so-pi-a)
Isabella = 이사벨라 (i-sa-bel-la)
Mia = 미아 (mi-a)
Emily = 에밀리 (e-mil-li)
Lily = 릴리 (lil-li)
Grace = 그레이스 (geu-re-i-seu)
Amy = 에이미 (e-i-mi)

Tricky Sounds and Special Cases

Silent Letters

Drop silent letters when converting:

Knight → sound: “nite” → 나이트 (na-i-teu)
Thomas → sound: “to-mas” → 토마스 (to-ma-seu)

TH Sound

Korean doesn’t have “th,” so use:

ㅅ for soft th (Cathy = 캐시)
ㄷ for hard th (Matthew = 매튜)

Final Consonants

Add 으 (eu) after final consonants that can’t stand alone:

Steve → 스티브 (seu-ti-beu) - not just 스티ㅂ
Mark → 마크 (ma-keu) - not just 마ㄱ

Double Letters

Korean doesn’t emphasize double letters the same way:

Melissa → 멜리사 (mel-li-sa)
Matthew → 매튜 (mae-tyu)

How Koreans Actually Use Foreign Names

In professional settings, Koreans usually:

Use their Korean name with Korean colleagues
Use their English name with international colleagues
Have both on business cards

When Koreans introduce themselves to English speakers, they might say:

“제 이름은 김민준이에요. My English name is Michael.”

If you’re living in Korea or doing business there, having a Korean name helps with:

Banking and official documents
Making Korean friends
Using Korean apps and services
Ordering coffee at cafes 😊

Practice Reading Your Korean Name

Now that you’ve written your name in Hangul, the next challenge is reading it fluently.

When you see your name written in Korean on a sign, document, or screen, you want to recognize it instantly—not slowly sound it out.

This is exactly what Batchim trains you to do. Through targeted drills, you’ll build automatic recognition of Hangul syllables and patterns, so reading Korean (including names) becomes natural.

Fun Ways to Use Your Korean Name

Once you have your Korean name, try:

Social Media Handles - Add it to your Instagram bio
K-pop Fan Accounts - Use it when interacting with Korean fans
Gaming Tags - Perfect for Korean servers
Learning Motivation - Use it to practice Hangul writing
Personalized Gifts - Order custom items with your Korean name

Korean Name Stamps (도장)

In Korea, people use personal name stamps (도장/dojang) instead of signatures for official documents.

If you visit Korea, you can get a custom name stamp made with your Korean name at:

Traditional markets
Stationery shops
Tourist areas (especially Insadong)

They’re beautiful souvenirs and actually functional!

Your Korean Name Generator Alternative

While online converters are convenient, they sometimes make mistakes with:

Unusual names
Silent letters
Regional pronunciation differences

Pro tip: Ask a Korean friend to check your converted name. They might suggest a version that sounds more natural.

Common Questions

Can I choose any Korean name I want?

Technically yes, but it’s more respectful to transliterate your real name rather than picking a random Korean name. Korean names have deep cultural meaning and family connections.

Will Koreans understand my foreign name in Hangul?

Most Koreans are used to seeing foreign names in Hangul, especially common Western names. They’ll usually understand immediately.

Should I use my Korean name when introducing myself?

In casual settings, just use your regular name. But if you’re filling out forms, booking reservations, or signing up for Korean services, your Korean name is useful.

How do I type my Korean name?

Install a Korean keyboard on your phone or computer. Then type the romanization (like “sa-ra”) and it will suggest 사라.

Next Steps: Beyond Your Name

Learning to write your name in Korean is a fun first step, but don’t stop there!

The real magic happens when you can:

Read Korean restaurant menus
Understand K-drama subtitles in Korean
Follow K-pop idols’ Instagram posts
Read webtoons in the original language

And that requires fluent reading speed—not just letter-by-letter decoding.

Download Batchim free and start building real Korean reading fluency.

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Now go write your name in Korean and show it off! ✍️🇰🇷

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