Ji-min

Etymology and Meaning

Ji-min is a common Korean given name, typically, though not exclusively, feminine. It is a compound name where each syllable carries independent meaning when written in hanja, the Sino-Korean characters. The first syllable, ji, can be derived from 志 meaning "will, purpose, ambition" (via the element ji) or 智 meaning "wisdom, intellect" (via ji). The second syllable, min, can come from 旼 meaning "gentle, affable" (min), 敏 meaning "quick, clever, sharp" (min), or 珉/玟 meaning "jade, stone resembling jade" (min). Many other hanja combinations are possible, giving the name a broad range of potential meanings.

Popularity

Ji-min has been widely used in South Korea. In 2008, it was the third-most popular name for baby girls, with 2,792 given the name. It can also be spelled as Jee-min.

Notable Bearers

The name is borne by several prominent South Korean entertainers and athletes:

• Actresses: Han Ji-min (born 1982), Kwak Ji-min (born 1985), and Kim Ji-min (actress, born 2000).
• Musicians: Several K-pop idols share this birth name: Park Ji-min (born 1995), known as Jimin of BTS; Park Ji-min (born 1997), known as Jamie; Shin Ji-min (born 1991), the former rapper; and Yu Ji-min (born 2000), known as Karina of Aespa.
• Sportspeople: Golfers Kang Ji-min (born 1980), judoka Lee Ji-min (born 1983).

• Meaning: depends on hanja; common meanings include "will/wisdom" + "gentle/clever/jade"
• Origin: Korean, derived from Sino-Korean hanja
• Variants: Jee-min