Kaori
A feminine Japanese name meaning "fragrant" or "fragrance".
Name Census estimates that about 1,356 living Americans carry the first name Kaori. It is a predominantly female name (95.1% of registrations). The average person named Kaori today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kaori births was 2022 (106 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kaori. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Although Kaori is used almost entirely for girls, the SSA data does show 68 boys registered with the name since 1880.
- • Kaori is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 15 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.4K
~ 1 in 252,769 Americans
Peak year
2022
106 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2023 SSA rank
#2,353
Tracked since 1969
Gender
Gender distribution for Kaori
Kaori leans heavily female at 95.1% of total registrations, but 68 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Kaori as a male name
- Ranked #11,520 in 2023
- 6 male births in 2023
- Peak: 2009 (9 births)
Kaori as a female name
- Ranked #2,353 in 2024
- 78 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2022 (106 births)
Popularity
Kaori: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kaori from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 435 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kaori by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Kaori during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kaoris live
The SSA's state-level files cover 12 states and territories. California, Texas, Georgia recorded the most babies named Kaori, while Maryland, Louisiana, Tennessee recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 34 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kaori
The name Kaori is a Japanese given name that has been in use for centuries. It is derived from the Japanese word "kaoru," which means "fragrant" or "aroma." The name is typically given to baby girls, and it is associated with beauty, grace, and elegance.
The earliest recorded use of the name Kaori dates back to the Heian period in Japan, which lasted from 794 to 1185 AD. During this time, the name was often used by members of the aristocracy and nobility. It is believed that the name was chosen to reflect the delicate and pleasing scents of flowers and incense that were popular among the upper classes of Japanese society.
One of the earliest known historical references to the name Kaori can be found in the Japanese literary classic "The Tale of Genji," written by Murasaki Shikibu in the early 11th century. In this work, a character named Kaoru is mentioned, which is a variant spelling of the name Kaori.
Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Kaori. One of the earliest recorded examples is Kaori Fujiya (1866-1930), a Japanese painter and printmaker who was known for her innovative techniques and beautiful depictions of nature.
Another famous Kaori was Kaori Icho (1888-1967), a Japanese novelist and essayist who was active during the early 20th century. Her works often explored themes of feminism and social issues, and she was an influential figure in the Japanese literary world.
In the field of music, Kaori Muraji (1975-present) is a renowned Japanese singer and songwriter who has released numerous successful albums and has a devoted fan base both in Japan and internationally.
The name Kaori has also been associated with notable figures in Japanese athletics. Kaori Icho (1984-present) is a highly accomplished Japanese wrestler who has won multiple Olympic gold medals and is widely regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.
Lastly, Kaori Mitsushima (1975-present) is a Japanese actress who has appeared in numerous films, television shows, and stage productions. She is known for her versatility and has received numerous awards and accolades for her performances.
People
Kaori + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kaori as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kaori: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kaori?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,356 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kaori going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 252,769 US residents.
Is Kaori a common name?
We classify Kaori as "Rare". It ranks above 91.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,377 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kaori most popular?
The single biggest year for Kaori was 2022, when 106 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kaori is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kaori a female name?
Yes, 95.1% of people registered as Kaori in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.