UK boy's name
Hyun
A masculine Korean name meaning "kind" or "courteous".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2005. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Hyun is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Hyun popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2005 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3849, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 4 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2000 to 2005. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Hyun. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2006 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Hyun ranked #3849 for boys in England and Wales in 2005, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 4 boys were registered as Hyun.
- • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hyun as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3849
2005
Births in 2005
3
Latest year
Peak year
2003
4 births
Estimated living
10
2026
Meaning
What does Hyun mean?
The name Hyun has its origins in the Korean language and culture. It is derived from the Korean word "hyeon" which means "wise" or "prudent." The name dates back several centuries, with its earliest recorded use found in historical records and literature from the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392 CE).
One of the earliest references to the name Hyun can be found in the Samguk Sagi, a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, compiled in 1145 CE. The text mentions a prominent scholar and official named Hyun Hui (861-935 CE), who served during the late Silla period.
During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897 CE), the name Hyun gained popularity among the yangban class, the aristocratic elite of Korean society. It was often given to sons with the hope that they would grow up to be wise and virtuous leaders.
One notable figure from this period was Hyun Bong-hak (1551-1615 CE), a renowned scholar and calligrapher who served as a royal tutor during the reign of King Seonjo.
In more recent history, the name Hyun has been borne by several influential individuals, including Hyun Sang-yun (1809-1886 CE), a leader of the Donghak Peasant Revolution, and Hyun Sung-min (1855-1928 CE), a prominent educator and independence activist during the Japanese colonial period.
Other famous individuals with the name Hyun include:
1. Hyun Jin-geon (1639-1701 CE), a Confucian scholar and writer during the Joseon Dynasty. 2. Hyun Seok-ju (1855-1935 CE), a pioneering journalist and independence activist. 3. Hyun Sang-yong (1932-2005 CE), a renowned South Korean poet and literary critic. 4. Hyun Young (1966-present), a South Korean singer and actress. 5. Hyun Bin (1982-present), a popular South Korean actor known for his roles in television dramas and films.
Throughout its history, the name Hyun has carried connotations of wisdom, intelligence, and virtue, reflecting the high regard in which these qualities were held in traditional Korean culture.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Hyun over time
The chart below shows babies named Hyun registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2005. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Hyun, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2005, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hyun by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hyun was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3247 | 10 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Hyun
- Harry 141,693
- Henry 65,177
- Harrison 45,958
- Harvey 35,648
- Harley 22,095
- Hugo 18,779
- Hayden 12,622
- Hunter 10,350
- Hudson 9,104
- Hamza 8,564
- Hassan 5,982
- Hasan 3,599
FAQ
Hyun: questions and answers
How popular is the name Hyun in the UK right now?
In 2005, Hyun was ranked #3849 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Hyun most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 4 babies registered as Hyun in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Hyun?
A masculine Korean name meaning "kind" or "courteous".
How many people are called Hyun in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Hyun across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.