In ancient Confucian times, cats were considered a symbol of good fortune in Korea. In fact, many Korean scholars would seek out these fluffy little felines before taking their exams, believing the cat would bring them good luck.
Along with good fortune, cats are believed to relieve stress and also bring laughter and happiness to your home. If you’ve decided to own one of these furry pets, you’re in for years of joy – we guarantee it.
While owning a cat gives you relief from stress, coming up with a name can be tough. To help you find the right name for your little furball, we have summed up our pick of the 13 best Korean cat names. And to ensure the name is truly a perfect fit, we’ve included the meanings as well.
Note: when calling for their cats, Koreans often add “Yah” at the end of the name, which means “come here”. So if you’re calling for your cat named “Bo Mi”, you’d call for your cat by saying “Bo Mi Yah!”.
For more names we think you’ll love, take a look at these unique Greek cat names.
Contents
Key Things to Think About when choosing between Korean Cat Names
1. Your Cat’s Appearance
The color of your cat or its markings can help you make a choice. Look at your kitty’s shape as well – is he sleek or solid? Pointy ears or flat back ears? Fluffy or sleek? Think about the concept of Onomatopoeia. This is when a word looks like what it describes.
2. The Personality of your Cat
A great cat name may reflect your cat’s personality. This can be difficult with a new cat as of course you haven’t gotten to know them yet and your cat may be very young so its personality is still developing. Take a few days to observe your new kitty and see what it is like.
A quiet and shy cat won’t suit the name Joker.
3. Your Cat’s Breed
Breeds can provide name ideas. How about Richard Parker for a Himalayan Cat?
4. Keep the name Short
You will use your cat’s name an awful lot – so the fewer the syllables the better. Also, this will be easier for your cat to absorb and remember.
Plus it is likely that you will be introducing your cat to friends, family, vets and others so a shorter name is easier for everyone to understand and remember.
5. Don’t choose a name that is bigger than your cat
Aslan might not be the best bet if your cat is a Munchkin.
6. The name should have longevity
It may seem hilarious to give your cat a lengthy name when you first get it but you may well tire of calling this name out and sharing it with others.
7. Be nice
Names that aren’t terribly flattering to your feline will most likely tire quickly such as Cow.
8. Make sure it fits with other cats in your household
Food is a great opportunity to develop matching names for cats in your household – like Pepper and Salt. Or Sylvester and Tweety. Or Ebony and Ivory. So many good combinations and options!
What if I choose the wrong cat name?
I know I let you know that your cat does learn its name but if you choose to change your cat’s name after a few weeks it shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
There is no evidence one way or the other as to what happens when a new owner changes the name of an older cat eg if you were to get a rescue kitty who was already several years old. I would suggest trying your name of choice and giving it a few months to stick and then making a decision from there.
13 Cute Korean Cat Names
1. Bbo-bbo
Bbo-bbo is a cute cat name which simply translates to “Kiss kiss”. Interestingly enough, cats do not show affection through kisses, although they may lick your face from time to time. Instead, cats show affection by slowly blinking their eyes, as well as by kneading us, and bringing us gifts. Speaking of gifts, spoil your kitten with these fun and colorful spring cat toys.
2. Chung
In English, Chung translates to “Spring”. The spring season symbolizes hope, new beginnings and growth. What better way to honor your new kitten than with a name this cute? To get you started on your journey as a kitty owner, check out this scratch-post and cat litter bundle.
3. Gi
Perhaps your kitten possesses similar features or behavioural traits to that of a lion. If that’s the case, Gi, meaning “brave” might be a good fit. Throughout history, lions have stood as a symbol of bravery and strength. Does your kitten resemble a little lion cub?
4. Kimchi
Kimchi is a Korean dish consisting of spicy pickled cabbage. It is a staple in Korean cuisine, commonly serving as a side dish. Kim-chi makes for a lovely pet name which beautifully captures the essence of Korean culture.
While kim-chi is not part of a cat’s diet, they’re sure to get everything they need from their cat food. For kittens, we recommend feeding them wet food, as their teeth are still too small to chew dry foods.
5. Kyong
A simple, single-syllable name for a cat is “Kyong”, which means “Brightness”. This term wonderfully describes exactly what many of our furry friends are, always brightening up our day.
6. Na-bi
Na-bi is one of the most popular cat names in Korea. It directly translates to “Butterfly” in English. Butterflies are often described as elegant, small, delicate, and colorful. They are also renowned for being swift. If your little guy is nimble and crafty, then Na-bi is a fitting name.
Fun fact – Na-bi is the name of a cat in the famous Korean cartoon, “There She Is”.
7. Nam-sun
Common among most cats, and arguably their cutest feature, is their big round eyes. Nam-sun is a name that means exactly that. If you simply can’t get over your little one’s big, round, brightly colored eyes – perhaps Nam-sun is the way to go.
This cute name also translates to “pure” and “honest”, which is what most cats are.
8. No-rang-i
Another popular cat name in Korea is No-rang-i, which in English means “Goldie” or “Yellowie”. If you’ve got a ginger cat, or one that’s sporting a honey-yellow coat, then No-rang-i might be the right name for your kitty.
9. Sa-rang-ee
If you’ve watched any Korean drama, you’ve most probably heard the phrase “saranghae”, which means “I love you”. Derived from this phrase, Sa-rang-ee is a cute name for your loveable cat.
⇒ Getting a new kitty? Check out my guide to How to Look after a Kitten, 6 Best Kitten Wet Food Options and 8 Best Kitten Dry Food Options
10. Som-ee
If you have a small, fluffy cat, Som-ee is a lovely option. It means “cotton ball”, which in English is already a cute way to describe a furry cat.
11. Ya-oong-i
A suitable Korean name for just about any cat is Ya-oong-i, which simply means “Meowie”. If there’s one thing cats are well-renowned for, it’s meowing. These cute little meows are especially adorable when they’re calling you or trying to get your attention.
12. Ye-bin
A popular name among Koreans and cats alike is Ye-bin. It is derived from the phrase “yeppuda”, meaning “to be pretty”. Ye-bin is also the name of several famous Koreans, including the South Korean beauty queen Yoo Ye-bin. If you consider your kitten to be the most beautiful (which most of us do), then Ye-bin’s got a nice ring to it.
13. Yu-jin
To many cat owners, our furry friends are like little treasures. For this reason, we found that Yu-jin should be included in this list of names as it simply means “rare” or “valuable”.
Best Female Korean Cat Names
Korean names are beautiful, unique, and represent a culture rich in descriptive stories. If you’re looking for a special name for your female feline, you’re sure to find something among the names below. You can also combine two or more to create a name that is truly one-of-a-kind.
- Ae-cha (Loving daughter)
- Aeng-du (Cherry)
- Bae (Inspiration)
- Bo-Mi (Beautiful)
- Bong-cha (Supergirl)
- Choon-hee (Spring girl)
- Danbi (Welcome rain)
- Eun (Silver)
- Gaeul (Fall or Autumn)
- Hae (Ocean)
- Ha-neul (sky)
- Hea (Grace)
- In-na (Delicate)
- Jang-mi (Rose)
- Ji-a (Wisdom and Knowledge)
- Ju-mi (Gem)
- Mee (Beauty)
- Seok-yeong (Flower)
- So-hui (Glorious)
- Yeosin (Goddess)
Best Male Korean Cat Names
A fitting name will stem largely from your cat’s appearance and personality. Below are some of the best Korean names for male cats. We’re sure you’ll find a special name for your handsome little guy among these favorites.
- Abeoji (Father)
- Ba-ram (Wind)
- Cho (Handsome)
- Dong-ee (Sunrise)
- Geon (Strength)
- Gam-cho (Licorice)
- Ho-seok (Heaven)
- Hwan (Shining and Bright)
- Ja-jung (Midnight)
- Jae-hee (Shining)
- Jong-seok (Great)
- Jung-nam (Friendly – read here for friendly cat breeds)
- Ro-wah (Wise)
- Seulgi (Wisdom)
- Seung (Winning)
- Suk (Rock or Stone)
- Su-won (Protect)
- Tae-hui (Big, Great)
- U-yeong (Glory)
- Yeo (Mildness)
Super Cute Korean Cat Names
Is your cat a cutie pie? Well of course, which cat isn’t? To honor how adorable these little guys are, here is a list of some of the cutest Korean names for your cat.
- Bam-ee (Night)
- Bo-a (Elegant)
- Byul-ee (Star)
- Chansol (Evergreen tree)
- Ha-ru (Day)
- Hee-jin (Pleasure)
- Ji-ho (Brave)
- Mi-sun (Kind and tender)
- Nam-son (in sleep)
- Ra-on (Joyful)
- So-ah (Small and beautiful)
- Shiro (White)
- Si-nae (Small River)
- Upo (Korean wetlands)
Funny & Famous Korean Cat Names
Over recent years, Korean pop culture has taken the world by storm. Korean pop culture is known for its sense of humor. Below is a list of the most famous Korean cat names for chubby and amusing cats.
Note: You may notice that several Korean cat names on this list end in “Ee”. This does not have a meaning, but is simply added to make the names sound even cuter.
If you haven’t found a name that catches your eye, you’re sure to find one among the unique options below. If not, take a look at these lovely Egyptian cat names.
- Ba-bo (Stupid – but in a friendly, more playful language)
- Chi-ta (Cheetah)
- Ddung-daeng-ee (Fatty)
- Dong-geul-ee (Roundy – perhaps he/she’s been eating too many tasty cat treats)
- Gan-nam-ee (After the Gangnam Province and Psy’s famous “Gangnam-style)
- Gom (Bear)
- Gom-dol (Teddy Bear)
- Gong-joo-im (Prince)
- Kim-bap (Rolled sushi)
- Mong-chong-ee (Idiot – but in a more playful sense)
- Mut-jeong-ee (Cool guy)
- Po-dong-ee (Chubby one)
- Ra-myun (Spicy noodle)
- Soju (Korean vodka)
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