English Name to Korean Converter

See how your name is written in Korean using official transcription rules

Try an example:

Want to Actually Learn Korean?

Go from knowing your name to introducing yourself, ordering food, and finally understanding your favorite K-drama. Learn through real conversations with an AI tutor that gives immediate feedback and is always available.

Download Lingrow

How Names Are Transcribed to Korean

외래어 표기법 (oeraeeo pyogibeop) - Korean Transcription Rules

Korean has official rules called 외래어 표기법 (oeraeeo pyogibeop) for writing foreign words, including names. These rules were established by the National Institute of Korean Language (국립국어원, gungnip gugeo-won) to ensure consistency in how foreign sounds are represented in Hangul (한글, hangeul).

The Conversion Process

  1. Phoneme extraction: We first determine how your name is pronounced using a pronunciation dictionary with over 130,000 English words.
  2. Sound mapping: Each English sound is mapped to the closest Korean sound following 외래어 표기법 rules.
  3. Syllable formation: Korean syllables must follow specific patterns (consonant + vowel + optional consonant), so we adjust sounds to fit these rules.

Why Some Names Sound Different

Korean doesn't have all the same sounds as English. For example:

  • F and V become ㅍ (p) and ㅂ (b)
  • TH (as in "think") becomes ㅅ (s)
  • R and L both become ㄹ
  • Consonant clusters like STR need helper vowels: 스트(ㄹ)

Standard vs Estimated Transcriptions

Names marked as "Standard transcription" use well-established Korean spellings that native speakers would recognize. Names marked as "Phonetic estimate" are algorithmically generated based on pronunciation rules, which may vary from how someone might actually write the name in Korean.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I pronounce my name in Korean?

After converting your name, you'll see the romanization underneath the Korean text. This shows you how to pronounce it using English letters. For example, 마이클 is pronounced "maikeul".

Why does my name look different in Korean?

Korean doesn't have all the same sounds as English. Sounds like F, V, and TH don't exist in Korean, so they get replaced with the closest Korean sounds. Also, Korean syllables follow strict patterns, so extra vowels are sometimes added.

Is there one correct way to write my name in Korean?

For common names like Michael or Jennifer, there are standard spellings that Korean speakers recognize. For less common names, there may be multiple valid ways to write them. Our converter uses official transcription rules to give you the most standard result.

Can I use my Korean name in Korea?

Yes! Koreans commonly write foreign names in Hangul. You'll see this on coffee cups, name tags, and official documents. Having your name in Korean is useful when traveling or studying in Korea.

Related Tools

Continue learning Korean with these free tools: