Fun Facts About the Name Katori
- 201 babies named Katori: U.S. records list 201 babies given the name Katori from 1880 through 2025. Even 7 boys received the name Katori - about 1 boy for every 28 girls.
What Does the Name Katori Mean?
Katori is a Japanese name written 香取. The first character, 香 (kō), means "fragrance" or "incense," and the second, 取 (tori, from the verb toru), means "take" or "gather," so the written name can be read literally as "gathering fragrance." That is a reading of the characters, not proof of the name's original sense: Katori is an old place name, and its earlier spoken form and true derivation are uncertain. The characters may have been attached for their sound rather than composed to carry a meaning.
Katori is not related to the Hindi and Urdu word kaṭorī (कटोरी), which means a small bowl or cup used for serving food; the resemblance is coincidental.
Katori Name History & Origins
The name belongs first to a place in Japan. Katori Jingū (香取神宮), in present-day Chiba Prefecture, is one of the country's oldest Shintō shrines and is dedicated to Futsunushi no Kami, a martial deity. The shrine gave its name to the surrounding Katori District and, later, to the city of Katori. From the place name came the Japanese surname Katori, borne by families in the region and elsewhere, and the name has been used for Japanese naval vessels, including a battleship of the early 1900s and the lead ship of the Katori-class cruisers built in the late 1930s.
As a given name, Katori is uncommon in Japan but is used in the United States; the playwright and television writer Katori Hall is a noted bearer. The name also appears on fictional characters in Japanese media, such as the training cruiser Katori in the game Kantai Collection.
How Popular is the Name Katori?
Katori has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2024. Its best rank was #6,028 in 2024.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #9,774 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #6,028 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2023 | #6,277 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 2022 | #7,453 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2021 | #7,825 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 2020 | #7,388 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2019 | #11,879 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2018 | #14,723 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #17,134 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #13,718 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #13,893 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #10,832 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #10,776 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2010 | #10,826 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2009 | #11,074 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #7,924 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2007 | #9,851 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | #10,243 | 7 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Katori Shapes Your Personality and Life?
EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Katori's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Katori's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.