Young-ho is a Korean masculine given name. It is an alternate transcription of the Hangul 영호 (see Yeong-ho). The name was highly popular in South Korea during the mid-20th century: government data shows it ranked as the most common name for newborn boys in 1940, dropping to second place in 1950 and third in 1960.
Etymology
The underlying name Yeong-ho is composed of two syllables typically written with Sino-Korean hanja characters. The first element, Yeong (영), can be written with characters such as 英 meaning “flower, petal, brave, hero,” 映 meaning “reflect light,” or 泳 meaning “dive, swim.” The second element, Ho (호), often uses 浩 meaning “great, numerous, vast” or 皓 meaning “bright, luminous, clear, hoary.” Various other hanja combinations are possible to create the same pronunciation.
Notable Bearers
Entertainers: Young-ho (also spelled Yong-ho) has been borne by several entertainers. Kim Young-ho (born 1967) is a South Korean actor. Seo Young-ho (born John Jun Seo, 1995) is a Korean-American singer. Perhaps most famous in gaming is Lee Young-ho (born 1992), known by his alias Flash, a legendary professional StarCraft player who dominated the scene in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Sportspeople: In sports, bearers include Go Yeong-ho (born 1966), a freestyle wrestler; Kim Young-ho (born 1971), a foil fencer who won Olympic gold at the 2000 Sydney Games; Jung Young-ho (born 1982), a freestyle wrestler; and Kwon Young-ho (born 1992), a football defender in the K2 League.
Other: The name has also been used in political contexts. Ri Yong-ho (born 1942) was a high-ranking North Korean military officer. Thae Yong-ho (born 1962) is a North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea in 2016, later becoming a member of the South Korean National Assembly.
Cultural Significance
The popularity of Young-ho in the mid-20th century reflects a common pattern in Korean naming traditions, where names with positive hanja meanings were widely favored. The rise and decline of Young-ho over the decades parallels broader trends in naming whims. Since the late 20th century, Korean parents have increasingly chosen more distinct or creative names, though Young-ho remains a classic choice.
- Meaning: From hanja elements meaning “brave/heroic/great” or “vast/bright.”
- Origin: Korean, based on Sino-Korean characters.
- Usage regions: South Korea primarily; among Korean diaspora.
- Popularity peak: #1 in 1940, #2 in 1950, #3 in 1960 in South Korea.
Sources: Wikipedia — Young-ho