Yes, the word ‘aunt’ can be considered a proper noun under certain circumstances. When ‘Aunt’ is used as a title before a person’s name, for example, ‘Aunt Mary,’ it is treated as a proper noun. This is because it not only signifies the family relationship but also identifies a specific individual. However, when used generically to refer to any aunt, as in ‘my aunt lives nearby,’ it functions as a common noun.
In summary, whether ‘aunt’ is a proper noun depends on its use in a sentence. Titles like ‘Aunt’ preceding a name are proper nouns, while general references to the relationship are common nouns.