Question 1

Is this my real Korean name?

Accepted Answer

No. The names generated by this tool are fictional Korean name candidates created for entertainment purposes only. They are not registered with any government authority and should not be used for official purposes such as passport applications, legal documents, or government registration.

Question 2

What is hanja?

Accepted Answer

Hanja (한자, 漢字) are Chinese characters that have been adopted into the Korean writing system. While everyday Korean is written in Hangul (한글), most Korean given names are still derived from hanja characters, each carrying specific meanings. For example, the character 恩 (eun) means grace or kindness, while 智 (ji) means wisdom.

Question 3

What are the five elements (오행)?

Accepted Answer

The five elements (五行, ohaeng) — Wood (木), Fire (火), Earth (土), Metal (金), and Water (水) — are a foundational concept in East Asian philosophy. Each element has associated qualities: Wood relates to growth and vitality; Fire to passion and brightness; Earth to stability and nurturing; Metal to clarity and strength; Water to wisdom and flow. In Korean naming traditions, these elements are used to create harmonious name combinations.

Question 4

How is the compatibility score calculated?

Accepted Answer

The compatibility score (0-100) reflects the relationship between your birth element (calculated from your birth year) and the dominant element in your Korean name. Names from the element that "generates" your birth element score highest (up to 95 points). Names from the same element as your birth score around 85. Names from conflicting elements score lower (55-70). A small random jitter ensures variety between similar names.

Question 5

Can I legally use a name generated by this tool in Korea?

Accepted Answer

No. Legal name registration in Korea requires following official government procedures, and names must meet specific character standards. Names generated by this tool are for entertainment and cultural exploration only. If you are interested in an official Korean name, consult a professional naming service (작명소) or the relevant government office.

Question 6

Why does the same input always give the same result?

Accepted Answer

The generator uses a deterministic seed based on your name and birth date. This ensures consistent results — if you share your Korean name link with a friend, they will see exactly the same five candidates. This design choice makes sharing reliable and reproducible.

Question 7

What is feng shui (풍수) in the context of names?

Accepted Answer

Feng shui (風水, fungsujiri) is the ancient East Asian practice of harmonizing people with their environment through elemental and directional energies. In name interpretation, feng shui principles suggest that names carrying certain elemental energies may be amplified by corresponding colors, directions, and environmental arrangements. The feng shui commentary in this tool is purely for entertainment.

Question 8

What is saju (사주)?

Accepted Answer

Saju (四柱, literally "four pillars") is a traditional Korean system of destiny analysis based on a person's birth year, month, day, and hour. Professional saju analysis (사주팔자) is used in Korea for major life decisions, including naming. Our tool provides simplified saju-inspired commentary for entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional saju analysis.

Question 9

How does the English name transliteration work?

Accepted Answer

The tool uses a phonetic mapping system to convert English letters to Korean syllables. Common English name digraphs (ph, sh, th, etc.) are mapped to natural Korean equivalents. For well-known names like John, Sarah, or Michael, we use curated override mappings for more natural results. The transliteration is not used directly as the Korean name — it informs the sound selection process, but the final candidates are selected based on elemental compatibility and meaning.

Question 10

What does "neutral" gender do?

Accepted Answer

Selecting "neutral" gender gives you access to the full range of Korean name syllables, including those typically associated with male, female, or gender-neutral names in Korean culture. Male and female selections filter towards syllables traditionally preferred for each gender. Neutral is recommended if you want maximum variety.

Question 11

Is my data saved or sent to a server?

Accepted Answer

No personal data is sent to any server. Your input (name, birth date, gender) is stored locally in your browser's localStorage for convenience, and can be encoded into a URL token for sharing. The URL token contains only the information you explicitly entered. There is no user account, no tracking of individual users, and no data collection beyond standard anonymous analytics.

Question 12

Can I share my Korean name with friends?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Use the "Share My Korean Name" button to copy a URL that encodes your input. When someone opens that link, they will see exactly the same five Korean name candidates. You can also copy the URL directly from your browser.

Question 13

Why are Korean surnames limited to a small list?

Accepted Answer

In Korean culture, surnames are generally fixed and passed down through families. Unlike Western naming conventions, creating a new Korean surname is extremely rare. Our tool uses 15 of the most common Korean surnames, selected based on their five-element associations, to produce realistic and culturally authentic name suggestions.

Question 14

What does the stroke count of a hanja character mean?

Accepted Answer

In traditional Korean naming philosophy (수리성명학), the total number of brush strokes in a name's hanja characters is believed to carry auspicious or inauspicious significance. Certain stroke count totals are considered lucky. While our tool displays stroke counts for informational purposes, the compatibility score is based on five-element theory, not stroke count numerology.

Question 15

Are the feng shui and saju interpretations accurate?

Accepted Answer

No. The feng shui and saju commentary generated by this tool is purely for entertainment. It is based on traditional cultural associations and general elemental descriptions, not actual astrological calculation. For genuine saju or feng shui consultation, please consult a qualified practitioner.

FAQ