Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Khalil
BoyArabic· “friend”
- Meaning
- friend
- Origin
- Arabic
- Pronunciation
- kuh-LEEL
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #384
- US babies 2025
- 826
- Best rank
- #251 (1995)
- Peak year
- 2020
Meaning and origin of Khalil
Khalil is an Arabic name that means “friend”.
Khalil comes from Arabic and means friend or close companion. In Islamic tradition Khalil Allah, friend of God, is a title of the prophet Abraham, and the city of Hebron is known in Arabic as al-Khalil for its connection with him. The Lebanese-American writer Khalil Gibran, author of The Prophet, carried the name to a wide English-speaking audience. Spellings include Kahlil and Halil in Turkish. Khalil is warm and meaningful, with a smooth two-syllable sound that travels well across cultures.
Other spellings with the same sound: Kalil.
Popularity over time
Khalil first appears in US Social Security records in 1957. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 37 different years, starting in 1989. Its best national rank was #251 in 1995, and the most babies received it in 2020, when 1,233 were named Khalil. In 2025, 826 babies were named Khalil, and it ranked #384 nationally. That is 32% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #1,052 in 1980, #404 in 2000, #501 in 2010, and #384 in 2025. Of the 25,021 US boys named Khalil since records began, 28% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 6,111 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Daxton, Prince, Atticus, Lane, and Maximiliano.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Khalil ranked highest in District of Columbia, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | #89 | 10 |
| Mississippi | #104 | 29 |
| Louisiana | #147 | 35 |
| Georgia | #276 | 45 |
| South Carolina | #281 | 20 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 99% of US babies named Khalil over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Khalil is usually pronounced kuh-LEEL, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with K and ends in “-il”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Kalil.
Middle names for Khalil
A few middle names that flow with Khalil: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Khalil
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Lists that include Khalil
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Khalil mean?
Khalil is an Arabic name that means “friend”.
What is the origin of the name Khalil?
Khalil has Arabic roots. Khalil comes from Arabic and means friend or close companion.
Is Khalil a popular name?
Yes. Khalil ranked #384 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Khalil a boy or girl name?
Khalil is mainly a boy's name. About 99% of US babies named Khalil over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Khalil?
Khalil is usually pronounced kuh-LEEL. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings