Korean Naming Rule

Hi everyone,

I'm Mr.Momm who lives in Korea for about 30 years.



I'd like to tell you Korean naming rule 'Dolimja'. I'll explain below.
If you have many korean friends, sometimes you think their names are similar.

Korean don't have many family names compared to Americans and other countries.



Also if you have korean friends who are brothers or sisters, you think their names are so similar.

That's related to Korean naming rule.

Korea Traditional House roof

I give you an example.

There are two brothers and their names are Kim Minsu and Minchul.

Those names can be separated in three parts.

Kim Min Su

Kim Min Chul

Kim is their family name.

Min Su and Min Chul are their given names.

As you know Min is same letter they have.

Min is dolimja.

Dolimja is the letter which is common in the same generation of the family.

Dolimja can be placed first position and second position. Which position doesn't matter.

Which position and which letter follow their family rules.

So Min Su's Su and Min Chul's Chul are their own names.

Please refer to the picture below.

Korean Naming Rule 'Dolimja'

Parents' dolimja is Min.

So Brothers Min-su and Min-Chul have the same letter MIn.

Sons' dolimja is Myung.

So cousions and brothers have the same letter Myung.

This is an example.

I told you which position and letter follow their own family rules.

 

I think people names followed this rule born in 80's and 90's.

This is the tradition not the law.

So we don't have to follow it.

These days Korean doesn't follow this rule strictly.

 

If you ask Korean friends, How about asking which is your dolimja?

He or she will be surprised and be familiar with you.

Thanks.