Kayori
A feminine Japanese name meaning "weaving beautiful patterns of sound".
Name Census estimates that about 194 living Americans carry the first name Kayori. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kayori today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kayori births was 2023 (49 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kayori. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Kayori with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
194
~ 1 in 1,766,775 Americans
Peak year
2023
49 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,669
Tracked since 2006
Popularity
Kayori: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kayori from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 148 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
Kayori 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 Kayori during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kayoris live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri recorded the most babies named Kayori, while New Jersey, Missouri, Louisiana recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 6 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kayori
The name Kayori has its origins in Japanese culture and language. It is a feminine name that combines the elements "ka," meaning "fragrance" or "aroma," and "yori," which translates to "depending on" or "derived from." Together, the name can be interpreted as "fragrance derived from" or "fragrance-bearer."
In ancient Japan, names often held significant symbolic meanings and were carefully chosen to reflect desirable qualities or aspirations for the child. The inclusion of "ka" in Kayori hints at a connection to nature and the appreciation of delicate fragrances, be they floral or otherwise.
While the name Kayori does not appear to have any specific historical references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its components can be traced back to the early development of the Japanese language and naming traditions.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Kayori dates back to the late 17th century, when it was used for a noblewoman in the imperial court during the Edo period. Kayori Nakanoin (1658-1719) was a prestigious court lady and renowned poet known for her contributions to the classical waka poetry form.
In the 19th century, Kayori Katsura (1804-1856) was a prominent geisha and courtesan in the Yoshiwara district of Edo (now Tokyo). She was renowned for her beauty, wit, and skill in traditional arts, and her name became synonymous with the cultural sophistication of the era.
Another notable figure was Kayori Kikuchi (1888-1948), a pioneering Japanese educator and advocate for women's rights. She established one of the first private schools for girls in Tokyo and played a pivotal role in promoting gender equality in education during the Meiji and Taisho periods.
In the realm of literature, Kayori Makino (1924-2008) was a celebrated Japanese author known for her novels exploring themes of love, identity, and the complexities of human relationships. Her works, including "Arakure" and "Kashi no Ki no Wakusei," gained widespread acclaim and earned her numerous literary awards.
Lastly, Kayori Kasai (born 1971) is a contemporary Japanese artist renowned for her intricate paper-cut installations and sculptures. Her works, often inspired by nature and the ephemeral beauty of transient forms, have been exhibited globally and are held in prestigious collections worldwide.
People
Kayori + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kayori 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
Kayori: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kayori?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 194 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kayori 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 1,766,775 US residents.
Is Kayori a common name?
We classify Kayori as "Very Rare". It ranks above 73.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 195 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kayori most popular?
The single biggest year for Kayori was 2023, when 49 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kayori is about 6 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Kayori in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kayori a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kayori 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.
Is Kayori still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kayori in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Kayori can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Kayori as a first name?
If you just want to know how many people have the name Kayori, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.