Meaning & History
Mi-suk is a common Korean female given name, typically formed by combining two Sino-Korean syllables. The first element mi (美) means “beautiful,” while the second element suk (淑) conveys meanings such as “good,” “pure,” “virtuous,” or “charming.” Although mi and suk are among the most frequent characters used, many other hanja combinations with the same pronunciations exist.
Cultural Significance
In Korean naming tradition, given names are often formed from hanja that carry desirable qualities. The choice of characters bearing meanings related to beauty, virtue, and purity reflects Confucian-inspired values, placing importance on moral character and harmonious appearance. Namesakes in public figures include churchwomen, educators, or artists, but notable bearers include South Korean painter and female independence activist Go Mi-suk.
Distribution Related Forms
Mi-suk belongs to a group of two-syllable Korean names that are most common among women born between the 1940s and 1980s. Variant forms exist using other hanja readings, such as Mi-sook using revised romanization, but the underlying Chinese character combination is identical or orthographically adapted in Korean lexicon. Related masculine names often share the mi- element paired with a different second syllable.
- Meaning: “beautiful” + “good” / “virtuous”
- Origin: Sino-Korean
- Type: Given name, female
- Usage regions: Korean-speaking countries (South and North Korea)