Taeo, Ian, Harin... Names Are Chosen to Avoid the Need for Change from the Start
After the 2005 Supreme Court Ruling Permitting Name Changes
Once Peaked at 160,000 Applications...
Now Dropped Below 100,000
"Worried About Teasing at School"
Careful Consideration of Pronunciation and Sound
Cumbersome Administrat
Mr. A (39), an expectant father whose child is due at the end of this month, said, "Even if a name has a good meaning, if it is unusual, my child might get teased at school, so I am considering more common names." According to the Supreme Court's Electronic Family Relationship Registration System, the most popular names registered for newborns in Seoul last year were 'Taeo' (359 boys, 8.01%), 'Ian' (327 boys, 7.30%), 'Harin' (272 girls, 6.60%), and 'Yuna' (265 girls, 6.43%). All of these names are evaluated as being concise in pronunciation and emphasizing sound and sophistication over specific meanings in Chinese characters.
The once fervent trend of changing one's name has noticeably cooled. Recently, the number of name change applications has dropped below 100,000, continuing a downward trend.
According to the Supreme Court's 'Judicial Yearbook' released on the 5th, the number of name change applications last year was 93,179, the lowest since 2005 (76,976 cases). A name change must be reported to the family relationship registration office after obtaining court approval. This can be done by visiting city, town, or township offices, or by filing online through the Supreme Court's Electronic Family Relationship Registration System (efamily.scourt.go.kr).
After the Supreme Court ruling in 2005, which recognized the right to pursue happiness and stated that "if there is a sufficient reason to permit a name change and it is not for the purpose of concealing a crime or evading legal restrictions, the name change should be permitted," the number of applications peaked at around 160,000 in 2009. From then until 2022, the annual number remained between 110,000 and 150,000. However, in 2023, the number dropped below 100,000 for the first time in 18 years, reaching 99,165 cases.
Analysts attribute the significant decline in name changes to the fact that names are no longer a source of social disadvantage or embarrassment. Nowadays, many parents carefully consider not only the meaning in Chinese characters but also the pronunciation and sound when naming their children, reducing the necessity for name changes.
The administrative hassle involved after changing one's name is also cited as a reason. Not only do people have to reissue their resident registration card, driver's license, and passport, but they must also contact each bank, telecommunications company, credit card issuer, and insurance provider individually to update their name. Ms. Cho (31), who changed her name several years ago, recalled, "It was extremely complicated because I had to prove my academic records and awards listed under my previous name when applying for jobs or changing employment. At times, I even wondered if it would have been better not to change my name."
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No Jincheol, a professor of sociology at Kyungpook National University, explained, "In the past, many people ended up with names they didn't want due to family traditions or generational naming rules. However, nowadays, more parents pay close attention to pronunciation and sound when naming their children, which has greatly reduced the necessity for name changes."
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