Certificate of Name
Seong-min
Masculine
Korean
Meaning & Origin
Seong-min is a Korean masculine given name, commonly transcribed in the Revised Romanization system. It originated as an alternative spelling of Sung-min, and both forms remain in use, though official documents prefer the South Korean standard.Etymology and MeaningThe name is composed of two Sino-Korean syllables. The first syllable, seong, can derive from 成 (seong) meaning "completed, succeeded" or from 性 (seong) meaning "nature, character."> The second syllable, min, typically comes from 敏 (min) meaning "quick, clever, sharp" or from 旻 (min) meaning "heaven."> Many other hanja character combinations exist, allowing for personal nuance.PopularityAccording to South Korean government data and news reports, the name sung-min—which is the same name under the older Yale Romanization—was the eighth-most popular name for newborn boys in 1970. It rose to second place in 1980 and remained so in 1990, reflecting a peak in its popularity during that era.Notable BearersEntertainersLee Sung-min (actor, born 1968), veteran South Korean actor known for film and television.Hong Seong-min (born 1976), known by the stage name Hong Kyung-min, singer and actor.Lee Sung-min (singer, born 1986), member of boy band Super Junior, one of K-pop's most successful groups.Choi Seong-min (actor, born 1995), singer and actor; member of boy band Speed.Ahn Seong-min (born 2003), member of boy group Cravity.SportspeopleKim Sung-min (footballer born 1981), goalkeeper.An Sung-min (born 1985), midfielder.Kim Sung-min (footballer born 1985), forward.Cultural NotesMany bearers in entertainment and sports still spell as 'Sung-min' due to earlier conventions, but both forms refer to the same name. The name also has a variant spelling via Revised Romanization: Seong-min.Meaning: "completed, succeeded," "nature," and "quick, clever, sharp" or "heaven"Origin: Sino-KoreanType: First name (masculine)Usage regions: South Korea
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