Minju

Minju is a Korean given name that is commonly used for women, though it can be used for men in some cases. In Hangul it is written as 민주. Like many two-syllable Korean names, its meaning depends on the hanja characters chosen to write each syllable. The first syllable 민 has many possible hanja readings, including meanings such as “people,” “clever,” or “bright,” while the second syllable 주 can be written with characters meaning “main,” “lord,” “master,” or other concepts. A widely recognized compound, 민주, means democracy when read as two hanja characters 民 and 主. Because there are many possible hanja combinations, there is no single fixed meaning for the name Minju.

Usage and reception: Minju is relatively common in Korea and among Korean diaspora communities. The name may appear in various transliterations in English, including Minju or Min-ju, depending on personal or family preference.

Notable people: Kim Minju (born 1999) is a South Korean actress and former member of IZ*ONE, a K-pop girl group formed through the reality competition show Produce 48. After IZ*ONE’s activities, she pursued acting and modeling. Other individuals named Minju may be found in Korea and abroad, reflecting the name’s ongoing popularity and versatility in transliteration.