Kiwon

Kiwon is a Korean given name, typically masculine, though contemporary usage may be gender-neutral. It is usually formed from two syllables, ki and won. In Hangul the name is written 기원, while the corresponding hanja characters, if chosen, can yield different meanings. The pronunciation remains the same despite variation in characters.

Meaning and hanja: The meaning of Kiwon depends on the hanja used for each syllable. The South Korean government maintains an official list of hanja permissible for given names, allowing many possible two-character combinations. As a result, Kiwon can be associated with themes such as origin or source (for the second syllable) and vitality, energy, or foundation (for the first syllable), among others. Because hanja choices vary, there is no single fixed meaning for the name.

Romanization and usage: In English contexts, Kiwon is a common spelling, though it can also appear as Gi-won, Kee-won, or Ki-won depending on romanization and personal preference. The name is primarily found among Korean speakers and members of the Korean diaspora, reflecting traditional two-syllable naming patterns that pair a ki syllable with a won syllable.