By the K-Pulso team · Published
In K-pop, every group has an official fandom name (팬덤명, paendeommyeong). The agency usually announces it a few months after debut, and it’s often a play on the group’s name. For fans it’s part of their identity: it’s what they call each other and what idols call them at every concert and award show.
Why they have a name
A fandom name builds community. It helps organize votes, fan chants, birthday projects and gifts for the idols, and lets fans recognize each other. Many fandoms also have an official color and their own lightstick.
The best-known fandoms
- BTS: ARMY, from Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth.
- BLACKPINK: BLINK, a blend of black and pink.
- TWICE: ONCE. The idea: love TWICE once and they’ll love you back twice.
- SEVENTEEN: CARAT, like a diamond’s carats.
- Stray Kids: STAY, the ones who stay with them.
- EXO: EXO-L.
- Red Velvet: ReVeluv.
- NCT: NCTzen.
- aespa: MY.
- IVE: DIVE.
- LE SSERAFIM: FEARNOT, a nod to their fearless motto.
- NewJeans: Bunnies.
- ENHYPEN: ENGENE.
- TOMORROW X TOGETHER: MOA, from Moments of Alwaysness.
- ATEEZ: ATINY, ATEEZ plus tiny.
- ITZY: MIDZY, which sounds like 믿지 (“you believe, right?”).
- i-dle: Neverland.
- NMIXX: NSWER, the “answer” to NMIXX.
- ILLIT: GLLIT.
- BABYMONSTER: MONSTIEZ.
- RIIZE: BRIIZE.
- ZEROBASEONE: ZEROSE.
- TWS: 42, read sai in Korean.
- BOYNEXTDOOR: ONEDOOR.
- KISS OF LIFE: KISSY.
- tripleS: WAV.
- PLAVE: PLLI.
- TREASURE: Teume.
- THE BOYZ: THE B.
- MONSTA X: MONBEBE.
- MAMAMOO: MooMoo.
- GOT7: Ahgase.
Fandoms from the earlier generations
- BIGBANG: VIP.
- Girls' Generation: SONE.
- Super Junior: E.L.F. (Ever Lasting Friends).
- SHINee: Shawol (from SHINee World).
- TVXQ: Cassiopeia.
- 2NE1: Blackjack.
- Apink: Pink Panda.
To find out which era each group comes from, read our guide to the K-pop generations.
A few details
- New groups take a while to get one. Until the agency announces it, fans use provisional names.
- They’re written the way the group decides. Some are all caps (ARMY, STAY), others aren’t (Bunnies, Neverland).
- One fan can be in many fandoms. Following several groups at once is very common.
On K-Pulso you can follow your groups with the heart (♥) on any video, no sign-up needed, and watch their videos on the artist pages. If you need more vocabulary, there’s the K-pop dictionary.