Kaori
Meaningfragrance · Japanese
Kaori is a Japanese girl name meaning “fragrance”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- AnagramShuffle the letters of Kaori and you get Kairo. Same letters, different name.
- GenerationKaori is having its moment right now. Most Kaoris are still in diapers or at preschool, so picture a Gen Alpha or Gen Beta kid.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Kaori would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 16,393 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryKaori first shows up in US birth records in 1969, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 56 years since.
- Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Kaoris? Head to Louisiana, where it's the #597 girl name, its best showing of any state.
US births per million girls, 1969–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Kaori
Kaori is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “fragrance”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It has been around for generations, yet it's never been more loved than it is today. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
More Japanese girl names
- Girl name: Naomi · pleasantness
- Girl name: Noa · movement
- Girl name: Reina · queen
- Girl name: Aya · sign, verse
- Girl name: Hana · one; flower in Japanese
- Girl name: Kiyomi · often pure beauty
- Girl name: Yuna · often gentle
- Unisex name: Akira · bright, clear
Questions about the name Kaori
What does the name Kaori mean?
Kaori means “fragrance” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Mika (“often beautiful fragrance”), Anuhea (“cool fragrance”), Areej (“fragrance”) and Abeer (“fragrance”).
What is the origin of the name Kaori?
Kaori is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Kaori a boy or girl name?
Kaori is a girl name, though a few boys are given it too each year. In 2025, 98 US girls were named Kaori.
How popular is the name Kaori?
Kaori ranked #1,962 for US girls in 2025, given to 98 babies. Its best year was 2022, when it reached #1,898. Over the last five years it has climbed 1,376 places.
What names are similar to Kaori?
If you like Kaori, you might also like Mika, Anuhea, Areej and Abeer.
What should I know before naming my baby Kaori?
Kaori is a Japanese girl name meaning “fragrance”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.