Kaori sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Maori, Lauri, and Cori are the closest matches by sound. Most share Kaori's Japanese cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"sweet-smelling (香)"
"beautiful, lovely"
"song, joy, shout of joy"
"join, connect"
"near, close"
"sand, generation, reason"
"older sibling"
"little one who is loved"
"sea dragon, small"
"luminous, of the light"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Kaori — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Japanese origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Kaori.
Rhythm: Kaori is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.