Yoon
Meaningdepends on the hanja chosen · Korean
Yoon is a Korean gender-neutral name whose meaning depends on the characters it's written with. Korean names are usually built from two syllables, each picked for the character it's written with. It sounds short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name. It suits a boy or a girl equally well.
Did you know?
- GenerationYoon peaked in 1982, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Yoon you'd meet today is about 43 years old.
- HistoryYoon first shows up in US birth records in 1978, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 47 years since.
US births per million girls, 1978–2025
US births per million boys, 1984–2025
Similar names
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Yoon
Yoon is a gender-neutral name of Korean origin. Short and strong, it's said in a single beat with a crisp finish, so it pairs easily with a longer middle name. It hit its peak in the 1980s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name. It works for a boy or a girl, which suits parents who'd like a name that doesn't signal gender.
Origin:Korean names
Other spellings of Yoon
More Korean names
- Girl name: Mira · wonderful
- Unisex name: Ari · lion
- Girl name: Hanna · grace
- Girl name: Mina · depends on the hanja chosen
- Girl name: Hana · one; flower in Japanese
- Unisex name: Sol · sun
- Girl name: Yuna · often gentle
- Unisex name: Dana · graceful, refined
Questions about the name Yoon
What does the name Yoon mean?
Like most Korean names, Yoon has no single fixed meaning. Each syllable is written with a hanja (Chinese) character, and parents choose the characters, and with them the meaning. The same sound can stand for very different things, so ask a Korean speaker which characters you'd use before you decide.
What is the origin of the name Yoon?
Yoon is Korean in origin. Other Korean names to consider are Mira (“wonderful”), Ari (“lion”), Hanna (“grace”) and Mina (“depends on the hanja chosen”).
Is Yoon a boy or girl name?
Both. Yoon is a true gender-neutral name used for boys and girls. That balance makes it a good pick if you'd like a name that doesn't signal gender.
How popular is the name Yoon?
Yoon is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2024. It peaked at #6,371 in 1982, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Yoon?
If you like Yoon, you might also like Ion. Ion is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Yoon?
Yoon is a Korean gender-neutral name whose meaning depends on the characters it's written with. Korean names are usually built from two syllables, each picked for the character it's written with. It sounds short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name. It suits a boy or a girl equally well. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.