Sooyoung as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Sooyoung

What is the meaning of the name Sooyoung ?

The baby name Sooyoung is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced Korean IPA: [su.jʌŋ]; approximate English: "soo-YUHNG" (soo-yuhng).

Sooyoung is Korean in Origin.

Sooyoung is a Korean given name (Hangul: 수영) used for all genders, with meaning determined by the hanja chosen for each syllable. Su (수) may be written as 秀 "excellence," 洙 "clear water," 守 "to guard," or 壽 "longevity," while Yeong/Young (영) can be 英 "hero/flower," 永 "eternal," 映 "to reflect," or 榮 "glory." Thus combinations like 秀英 ("excellent and heroic/flowerlike") or 壽永 ("everlasting longevity") are typical; many other pairings are possible. In everyday Korean, 수영 also means "swimming," though as a name it is anchored in hanja meanings.

Usage expanded in the late 20th century and remains familiar today, with cross-gender recognition but a modern tilt toward feminine use. Common variants include Soo-young, Sooyoung, Su-young, Su-yeong, and the older McCune-Reischauer Suyŏng; nicknames include Soo, Young, and SY. Notable bearers include Choi Soo-young (Girls' Generation) and Joy (Park Sooyoung) of Red Velvet.

⚙ Sooyoung is a genuine rarity. We hold just 34 recorded uses of it, from 19 countries.