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Kaoru as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Kaoru

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The baby name Kaoru is a Unisex name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced KAH-oh-roo (Japanese IPA: [ka.oɾɯ]).

Kaoru is Japanese in Origin.

Gender: Unisex
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: Japanese
Pronunciation: KAH-oh-roo (Japanese IPA: [ka.oɾɯ])

What is the meaning of the name Kaoru ?

The baby name Kaoru is a Unisex name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced KAH-oh-roo (Japanese IPA: [ka.oɾɯ]).

Kaoru is Japanese in Origin.

Kaoru is a unisex Japanese given name derived from the verb kaoru (香る/薫る), “to be fragrant” or “to waft a sweet scent.” Meaning depends on the chosen characters: 薫 “fragrance; incense-like elegance,” 香 “perfume; scent,” 馨 “sweet-smelling; reputation,” or 郁 “fragrant; cultured.” It may also be written purely in kana as かおる or カオル. Pronounced KAH-oh-roo, the name carries associations of refinement, subtle beauty, and lingering presence.

The name appears in classical literature - most famously Kaoru (薫), the contemplative protagonist of the Uji chapters of The Tale of Genji - and has remained in steady use across centuries. In the 20th century it was popular for boys with 薫, while contemporary usage is firmly unisex, with feminine spellings sometimes favoring 香 or 馨. Related variants include the feminine Kaori (香織/香里 etc.) and compounds like Kaoruko (薫子). Common nicknames include Kao-chan.

Kaoru has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Kaoru

Kaoru Yachigusa Actor · Born 1931 · Japan Kaoru Yachigusa was a Japanese actress best known for her film and television work and for being a member of the Takarazuka Revue from 1947 to 1957. Born in Osaka Prefecture, she had a long career in Japanese entertainment and remained a respected screen actress for decades.

Kaoru – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
JP 0 #55 23 4,057
JP Girls 0 #84 222 6,592
TW 0 #103 1 4,523
BN Girls 0 #112 3 5,459
JP Boys 0 #173 135 7,909
HU Boys 0 #174 1 3,954
HR 0 #181 1 2,081
DK 0 #206 1 5,198
HU Girls 0 #225 1 3,308
TW Boys 0 #255 2 7,111
SG 0 #279 4 11,010
TW Girls 0 #282 8 8,139
CN Boys 0 #331 1 9,639
QA Girls 0 #343 1 15,378
MY 0 #353 2 12,352
HK 0 #356 2 8,483
BO 0 #408 1 6,868
PH Boys 0 #408 1 11,440
UY Boys 0 #413 1 5,922
PH Girls 0 #427 3 13,098
CL 0 #434 1 6,867
MX 0 #445 1 8,339
CO 0 #509 2 7,768
PA Girls 0 #517 2 9,861
HK Boys 0 #555 3 12,905
SG Girls 0 #564 23 18,916
AE Girls 0 #597 1 20,968
HK Girls 0 #603 13 16,104
BO Boys 0 #621 2 9,244
AR Girls 0 #630 1 8,289
BO Girls 0 #651 1 9,488
CL Boys 0 #656 10 13,390
SG Boys 0 #737 3 17,960
BR Boys 0 #781 5 12,213
PE Boys 0 #869 10 14,506
CL Girls 0 #911 5 14,098
EG Boys 0 #925 1 15,035
CO Boys 0 #981 1 15,656
MY Girls 0 #983 12 24,821
BR Girls 0 #992 1 12,708
PE Girls 0 #1,005 6 14,861
EG Girls 0 #1,009 1 14,742
SA Girls 0 #1,014 1 25,931
MX Boys 0 #1,030 4 16,355
MY Boys 0 #1,099 13 25,439
AE Boys 0 #1,143 1 22,615
CO Girls 0 #1,151 2 16,140
MA 0 #1,198 2 20,986
TR 0 #1,252 3 19,440
MX Girls 0 #1,260 8 17,781
IT Girls 0 #1,431 16 9,415
SA Boys 0 #1,690 2 28,008

Kaoru is popular in 27 countries — most recent births per country:

AE
AR
BN
BO
BR

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People also ask about Kaoru

Kaoru is a unisex name, given to both boys and girls.
Kaoru is a 3 syllable name, pronounced KAH-oh-roo (Japanese IPA: [ka.oɾɯ]).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include 薫 (Kaoru), 馨 (Kaoru), 香 (Kaoru), かおる (hiragana) and カオル (katakana).
Across languages, Kaoru has these equivalents: Xiang (Chinese, 香), Hương (Vietnamese, 'fragrance'), Hyang (Korean, 향).
Kaoru is a name of Japanese origin, traditionally used in Japan. It doesn't appear in the major international birth registries we track, but it is an established name within Japan and its diaspora communities.
Yes — 1 notable people named Kaoru are in our database, including Kaoru Yachigusa (Actor).