이름

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 일홈〮 (Yale: ìlhwóm). Also attested in the Yongbi eocheon'ga (龍飛御天歌 / 용비어천가), 1447, as Middle Korean 일훔〮 (Yale: ìlhwúm).

Appears to be unattested verb *잃다〮 (Yale: *ìlh-tá, “to name”) + 옴〮 (Yale: -wóm, gerund-forming suffix) with the gerund undergoing a semantic shift to a full noun; the verb is also found in 일ᄏᆞᆮ다〮 (Yale: ìlh-kòt-tá, “to name”) > Korean 일컫다 (ilkeotda). Beyond Koreanic, Andrew Shimunek identifies the form as borrowed from Khitan (*irV), (*iri, “name, title”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):

  • (file)

• Phonetic hangul:

• South Gyeongsang (Busan) pitch accent: 이름의 / 이름에 / 이름까지

  Syllables in red take high pitch. This word always takes high pitch only on the first syllable, and lowers the pitch of subsequent suffixes.

Noun

이름 • (ireum)

1. name; full name

   Synonyms: (formal, written) 명(名) (myeong), (honorific for people) 성함(姓銜) (seongham, “full name”), 성명(姓名) (seongmyeong, “full name”)

   이 식물은 이름이 뭐야?

   I singmur-eun ireum-i mwo-ya?

   What's the name of this plant?

   누구 이름으로 예약하셨나요?

   Nugu ireum-euro yeyakhasyeonnayo?

   What name is your reservation under?

   자비로우시고 자애로우신 하나님의 이름으로

   jabirousigo jaaerousin Hananim-ui ireum-euro

   in the name of God, the Merciful, the Benevolent

2. given name (in opposition to a surname)

   Synonym: (formal, written) 명(名) (myeong)

3. name, justification

   Synonym: 명분(名分) (myeongbun)

   세계 평화의 이름으로 침략 전쟁을 일삼는 나라

   segye pyeonghwa-ui ireum-euro chimnyak jeonjaeng-eul ilsamneun nara

   a country which makes a pastime of invasive war in the name of world peace

4. (idiomatic) good name, fame, reputation

   이름이 높다 ― ireum-i nopda ― to be famed (literally, “for the name to be high”)

5. (computing) username

References