Kaori is a Japanese name that means "fragrance" and is often written with characters for fragrance and weaving; it was one of the most popular girls' names in Japan in the 1970s and 1980s. In the United States it is used by Japanese-American families and by parents drawn to Japanese names through anime. Kaori ranked number 7790 in 2000, reached its best position at number 1902 in 2022 and stands at number 1970 in 2025.