Kayoko
Meaningoften fragrant child · Japanese
Kayoko is a Japanese girl name often meaning “fragrant child”. 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 flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Kayoko would score 17 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5).
- GenerationKayoko peaked in 1921, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents.
- HistoryKayoko first shows up in US birth records in 1921, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 104 years since.
US births per million girls, 1921–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Kayoko
Kayoko is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “often fragrant child”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It was most fashionable in the 1920s, which gives it a vintage, grandparent-chic charm. 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 Kayoko
What does the name Kayoko mean?
Kayoko means “often fragrant child” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Zainab (“possibly fragrant plant”), Zaynab (“fragrant plant”), Marwa (“fragrant plant”) and Zeinab (“fragrant plant”).
What is the origin of the name Kayoko?
Kayoko is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Kayoko a boy or girl name?
Kayoko is a girl name.
How popular is the name Kayoko?
Kayoko is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 1921. It peaked at #5,099 in 1921, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Kayoko?
If you like Kayoko, you might also like Zainab, Zaynab, Marwa and Zeinab.
What should I know before naming my baby Kayoko?
Kayoko is a Japanese girl name often meaning “fragrant child”. 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 flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.