Enter name
Enter a Korean name.
Korean Name Romanizer | English Name for Passport
Enter a Korean name to get English surname spellings ranked by real passport-usage statistics, plus common and official romanizations for the given name. Useful for passports, visas, flight tickets, and overseas payments.
How to use
Pick spelling
Pick a surname spelling by frequency and a given-name spelling.
Format & copy
Choose order/join/passport format and copy.
When to use this
Useful for deciding your English name before a passport/visa application and keeping family surnames consistent.
Deciding your English name when first applying for a passport
Entering your English name on a visa, ESTA, or flight ticket
Filling overseas card, remittance, or contract forms
Keeping family members’ English surnames consistent
English name spelling guide
The same Korean surname is romanized differently from person to person. Below are the common spellings by real passport statistics, and common vs official given-name spellings.
| Surname | Most common | Others |
|---|---|---|
| 김 | Kim (99.8%) | Gim |
| 이 | Lee (98.4%) | Yi · Rhee |
| 박 | Park (97.3%) | Bak · Pak |
| 정 | Jung (41%) | Jeong · Chung |
| 윤 | Yoon (49%) | Yun · Youn |
| 임 | Lim (62%) | Im · Yim |
| Hangul | Common | Official (RR) |
|---|---|---|
| 영 | Young | Yeong |
| 현 | Hyun | Hyeon |
| 준 | Joon | Jun |
| 수 | Soo | Su |
| 우 | Woo | U |
| Order is surname first, then given name on Korean passports. |
| Write the given name joined (Minjun) or hyphenated (Min-jun). It is hard to change once registered. |
| Keep family members’ surname spelling identical. |
| Names are romanized syllable by syllable without sound assimilation, e.g. 한복남 → Han Boknam. |
Frequently asked questions
Is there one correct English spelling?
No. This tool recommends spellings based on real passport usage and the official romanization, but the final choice is yours.
Should I use Lee or Yi?
About 98% of people with this surname use Lee on passports. Without a specific reason, follow the most common spelling and match your family.
How is the name written on a passport?
Surname first (uppercase), then the given name, joined or hyphenated (e.g. GILDONG or GIL-DONG).
Is it free? Do I need to sign up?
It is free with no sign-up, and your input is not sent to any server.
What about surnames with split spellings like Ryu/Yoo?
Even with the same Hangul, spelling can vary by clan and the initial-sound rule. Pick the spelling your family uses from the candidates.