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Name Lineage

    The first name Khalil

    A boy’s name from Arabic meaning “friend”.

    2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Arabic origin

    Khalil means “friend” in Arabic.

    Borrowed from Arabic خَلِيل (ḵalīl, “friend”).

    More names that mean friend.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 128 boys were named Khalil, making it the 331st most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2024, with 160 births (#283).

    0100200 1996200020052010201520202025
    1,640
    babies named Khalil, 1996–2025
    #331
    rank in 2025
    2024
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Khalil with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Khalil at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 826 boys born in the United States were named Khalil, the 384th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2020, when 1,233 were.

    01,0002,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    25,203
    babies named Khalil since 1880
    #384
    rank in 2025
    2020
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Khalil

    10 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Khalil al-Hayya
      Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, born 1960
    • Khalil Haqqani
      Afghan minister, 1966–2024
    • Khalil Rountree Jr.
      American mixed martial arts fighter, born 1990
    • Khalil bey Khasmammadov
      Azerbaijani politician and diplomat (1873-1947)
    • Khalil Mack
      American football player (born 1991)
    • DJ Khalil
      American record producer and DJ from Washington, born 1973
    • Khalil Ibrahim Al-Zayani
      Footballer Saudi, born 1947
    • Khalil Kain
      American actor, born 1964
    • Khalil Al Qaheri
      Bahraini Entrepreneur, born 1986
    • Killy
      Canadian rapper, born 1997

    More Arabic boys’ names

    All 218 names of Arabic origin

    Questions

    What does the name Khalil mean?
    Khalil means “friend” in Arabic.
    What is the origin of the name Khalil?
    Borrowed from Arabic خَلِيل (ḵalīl, “friend”).
    How popular is the name Khalil?
    In 2025, 128 boys born in England and Wales were named Khalil, ranking 331st. Its peak was 2024, with 160 births.
    Is Khalil a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 25,203 US babies named Khalil since 1880 were boys.
    When was Khalil most popular?
    2020 in the United States, when 1,233 babies were named Khalil, its highest rank at 274th.
    Is Khalil also a surname?
    Yes. Khalil is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.