Young‑mi (Hangul: 영미; Revised Romanization: Yeong‑mi) is a Korean feminine given name. The meaning of the name varies according to the hanja (Chinese characters) used to write each syllable. In South Korea, the government maintains an official list of hanja permitted for use in personal names; there are 34 hanja with the reading "young" (영) and 33 hanja with the reading "mi" (미) that may be selected. Common combinations include:
- 영 (英) meaning “heroic, outstanding” + 미 (美) meaning “beauty,” yielding a meaning such as “outstanding beauty.”
- 영 (永) meaning “eternal” + 미 (美) meaning “beauty,” yielding “eternal beauty.”
- 영 (映) meaning “to reflect” + 미 (美) meaning “beauty,” yielding “reflected beauty.”
Because the exact hanja are not always disclosed, the specific meaning of an individual’s name Young‑mi cannot be determined without additional information.
Usage and popularity
Young‑mi has been a relatively common given name for women in South Korea, particularly among those born in the latter half of the 20th century. The name follows the typical Korean naming convention of a one‑syllable family name followed by a two‑syllable given name.
Notable people named Young‑mi
- Kim Young‑mi (김영미, born 1975) – South Korean actress known for roles in television dramas such as My Love from the Star and The Heirs.
- Lee Young‑mi (이영미, born 1981) – South Korean handball player who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics.
- Park Young‑mi (박영미, born 1968) – South Korean singer and television personality, noted for her participation in variety shows.
- Choi Young‑mi (최영미, born 1990) – South Korean film director, recognized for the independent film Silent Echoes (2020).
(Only a representative selection is provided; many other individuals in various fields bear the name.)
Cultural considerations
In Korean culture, the selection of hanja for a given name often reflects parental aspirations or virtues desired for the child. Consequently, names like Young‑mi, which can incorporate characters denoting “beauty,” “eternity,” or “excellence,” are chosen for their positive connotations.
Linguistic notes
The romanization “Young‑mi” follows the Revised Romanization system, where the initial vowel sound 영 is rendered as “yeong” but is sometimes spelled “young” in English-language contexts for ease of pronunciation. The hyphen separates the two syllables of the given name, a convention commonly used in English-language publications to reflect Korean naming structure.