Hyun

Primarily a boy's name of Korean origin with 263 recorded births. Also given to 168 girls.

Boy's nameAlso girl'sRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

A surname.

Hyun is a unisex baby name of Korean origin, a Romanization of the Korean character 현 meaning 'bright,' 'virtuous,' or 'worthy.' It appears frequently as both a standalone name and as a component in compound Korean names like Hyun-ju or Hyun-soo.

Hyun carries Confucian ideals of moral cultivation and intellectual brightness — qualities deeply valued in traditional Korean naming philosophy.

EtymologyShow more

The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Hyun's final sounds are sharp, distinct — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Hyun follows that masculine pattern.

Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Hyun's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.

At a Glance

263

Total births

Since 1972

1989

Peak

14 births

1972

First recorded

45 years of data

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Popularity Over Time

Hyun has 32+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1972.

First appeared: 1972Peak: 1989 (14 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Hyun
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2010s	5	#12940	▼
2000s	50	#10502	▼
1990s	87	#5988	—
1980s	87	#4482	▲
1970s	34	#4836	—

The Story of Hyun

A Millennial name

Peaking in 1989, Hyun is a Millennial-era classic. Boys named Hyun are most likely born between 1979 and 1999.

How rare is Hyun?

With fewer than 500 recorded births, Hyun is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1972, peaked in the 1980s with 87 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Hyun by the numbers

Would fill 5 school buses

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(32 years, 1972–2016)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Hyun
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2016	5	#12940	0
2008	5	#13274	0
2007	5	#13067	-2 (-28.6%)
2006	7	#9959	0
2004	7	#9294	+2 (40.0%)
2003	5	#11544	0
2002	5	#11335	-3 (-37.5%)
2001	8	#7819	0
2000	8	#7725	+1 (14.3%)
1998	7	#7898	0
1997	7	#7585	-6 (-46.2%)
1996	13	#4709	+3 (30.0%)
1995	10	#5658	+1 (11.1%)
1994	9	#6036	-2 (-18.2%)
1993	11	#5147	-2 (-15.4%)
1992	13	#4417	+7 (116.7%)
1991	6	#7638	-5 (-45.5%)
1990	11	#4807	-3 (-21.4%)
1989	14	#3895	+2 (16.7%)
1988	12	#4012	0

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Hyun as a Girl's Name

Though more common for boys, Hyun has a notable history as a girl's name too, with 168 births since 1957.

Unranked

Current rank

168

Total births

1982

Peak year

Compare Hyun as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hyun a boy's or girl's name?

Hyun is primarily a boy's name. It is also used as a girl's name, with 168 recorded births.

When was Hyun most popular?

Hyun reached its peak popularity in 1989 with 14 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Hyun?

Hyun is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 263 babies in the U.S. since 1972. Its peak was in 1989.

Can Hyun be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Hyun is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it is not currently ranked. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Explore More

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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1972–2016