Find out how popular the first name Yoon has been for the last 45 years (from 1978 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Yoon by gender

Based on the last 45 years of data, Yoon is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 70% of people named Yoon being male.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Yoon.

It's also interesting to see that despite Yoon being historically a mostly male name, the most recent data from 2022 shows a shift in the trend, with more female babies being named Yoon.

The history of the first name Yoon

The given name Yoon has its origins in Korean culture, deriving from the Korean word "yun" which means "cloud" or "fortune." It is believed to have been in use as a personal name in Korea for centuries, dating back to at least the Goryeo period (918-1392 CE).

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Yoon can be found in the Samguk Yusa, a 13th-century historical text that chronicles the lives of renowned Buddhist monks and scholars from the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCE – 935 CE) in ancient Korea. The text mentions a monk named Yoon Sungno, who lived during the Silla Kingdom (57 BCE – 935 CE) and was renowned for his calligraphy skills.

Throughout Korean history, the name Yoon has been associated with various notable figures. One of the most famous was Yoon Gwan (1537-1599), a prominent Neo-Confucian scholar and philosopher during the Joseon Dynasty. He was highly influential in the development of Korean Confucian thought and served as a mentor to many notable scholars and statesmen of his time.

Another historical figure bearing the name Yoon was Yoon Tuitgye (1562-1635), a renowned military leader and strategist during the Imjin War (1592-1598) against Japan. He is credited with developing innovative defensive tactics that helped repel the Japanese invasion, and his military achievements are still celebrated in Korean culture today.

In more recent history, Yoon Chi-ho (1865-1945) was a prominent Korean independence activist and one of the first Korean Protestant leaders. He played a significant role in the Korean independence movement against Japanese colonial rule and was a vocal advocate for Korean self-determination.

Yoon Suk-yeol (born in 1960) is a contemporary figure who served as the President of South Korea from 2022 to the present day. He is the first president in South Korean history to have been born in the 1960s and has emphasized policies aimed at promoting economic growth and addressing various social issues.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the given name Yoon, which has deep roots in Korean culture and tradition, carrying connotations of fortune, clouds, and notable achievements.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Yoon was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Yoon, please contact us.

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