Names
Among older Jindo owners, there are some Korean names that are and are not appropriate for a dog. Names after mountains, aspects of
natures, and strong wild animals are fine. Names based on impressions are fine.
It was considered inappropriate to use people
names though. Some plant names were not considered appropriate as well.
The sound and the flow of the name is also important.
In modern times, the convention for naming dogs has been relaxed considerably and dogs can be named after people and plants.
Even names based on foreign language is used.
Many dogs' names are based on one or two meaningful, one-syllable words.
ex. BaekSoo
Baek = white
Su = long life
Sometimes "-ee", "-yi", or "-i" is added to the end of a dog's name. The three are all pronounced the same. This softens the dog's name, especially when the last syllable ends in a consonant. It can also be added spontaneously as a sign of affection for the dog.
ex. Soonee, HwangDolYi
When a dog is called by his/her owner, the name ending may change to a more commanding "-a" or "-ya" sound depending if the last letter ends in a consonant or vowel. It is similar to "Hey you!" rather than a real name.
ex. Boksoon becomes Boksoona, Soonee become Sooneeya
| Popular one-syllable words |
Meaning |
| Jin |
1. referring to jindo island or jindo dog breed
2. True, original, real (sincere) |
| Hwang |
yellow |
| Baek |
1. white
2. hundred |
| Soon |
calm or gentle
(feminine name) |
| Mee |
beauty
(feminine name) |
| Gu |
dog (related to Chinese character) |
| Su or Soo |
1. excellence
2. long life
3. water
4. hand |
| Ho |
tiger |
| Yong |
dragon |
| Chul |
season, iron, or firm
(masculine name) |
| Dong (male) |
east, reason, same, or copper
(Masculine name. Also substitutes for "male" in multi-syllable names.) |
| Dol (male) |
rock
(Masculine name. Also substitutes for "male" in multi-syllable names.) |
| San |
mountain |
| Kyung |
mirror, scenery, happy event, light, etc.
(feminine name) |
| Dae |
great or big |
| Ran |
orchid
to shine |
| Man |
ten thousand |
| Min |
cleverness, people, sky, stone, quick, etc. |
| Shik |
plant/found, clear, etc
(masculine name) |
| Shin |
faith or belief
god |
| Nam |
south, male |
Here are some common Jindo names, according to Dr. Yun, Shin Keun, author of one of the Korean Jindo books.
Jindol, Jinsoon, Jinmee, Jinchul, Jinshik, Jinhee, Jinae, Jinkyung, Hwangdol, Hwangsoon, Hwangnam, Hwangsuk, Hwangchul,
Hwangkyung, Hwanghae, Baekgu, Baekdol, Baeksik, Baekjin, Baekmyung, Baekran, Baekdu, Baekma
Here are some other common names:
Danbee = refreshing rain after a drought
Jinju (female) = pearl
Pado = ocean wave
Jangmee (female) = rose
Naree (female) = lily
Janggoon (male) = military general
Kongju (female) = princess
Nabee (female) = butterfly
