"friend, companion, intimate"
Origin: Arabic
Language: Arabic
Khalil
Pronunciation: [ k-AL-uhl ]
Does Khalil flow with your last name?
Friend of God, poet of the heart, a name across genders
Arabic
Muslim
Lebanese
North African
American
Arabic
Literary
Gender Neutral
Poetic
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Khalil
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Khalil
2 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"close friend, beloved companion"
Origin: Arabic
Language: English
Browse names with similar meanings:
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Khalil
See all →What the Khalil report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Khalil the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Khalil
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Khalil head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Khalil actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
The Story of Khalil
Khalil derives from the Arabic root 'kh-l-l' (خلل), meaning 'to be friends with' or 'to be intimate.' As a name, it means 'friend' or 'companion' — the same word used in the title 'Khalilullah' (Friend of God), an epithet for the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) in Islamic tradition. While traditionally a male name, Khalil is increasingly embraced as a gender-neutral name in Arab diaspora communities and by families inspired by poet Khalil Gibran.
Khalil gained global literary recognition through the Lebanese-American poet Khalil Gibran (1883-1931), author of The Prophet — one of the best-selling poetry books in history. This cultural footprint has made Khalil feel both timeless and modern, and its adoption for girls reflects growing gender-neutral naming trends.
In Islamic tradition, Khalil holds sacred meaning as part of 'Khalilullah' — the title for Ibrahim (Abraham), the friend of God. This deep spiritual connotation, combined with Gibran's literary legacy, gives Khalil extraordinary resonance across religious and secular cultures.
Historical Record
Khalil first appeared in US Social Security records in 1979.
Over 182 babies have been named Khalil in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Khalil is past its peak , currently ranked #33,689 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Khalil Gibran's The Prophet (1923) has been translated into more than 100 languages and is one of the best-selling books of the 20th century.
- Ibrahim (Abraham) is called 'Khalilullah' (Friend of God) in Islamic tradition — making Khalil a name with profound theological meaning.
- Khalil is among the most common names in Lebanon, where it is carried by both Christians and Muslims, reflecting its cross-religious appeal.
Khalil in Other Languages
Urdu
خلیل
Arabic
خليل
French
Khalil
Persian
خلیل (Khalil)
Turkish
Halil
Popularity Over Time
#33,689
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Peaked 1995
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Raygen
Girl
"little ruler; queenly"
#33,888
Billiejoe
Girl
"God will increase"
#33,616
Saul
Girl
"asked of God"
#33,510
Tedrina
Girl
"gift of God; feminine form derived from Theodore"
#33,746
Tishonda
Girl
"bright, flowing one (invented blend)"
#33,608
Compare Khalil with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #33,689
- Total SSA Count
- 6
- Cultural Origins
- Arabic Muslim Lebanese North African American
- Pronunciation
- Moderate
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Kali
Khali
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Classic pairing, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Classic pairing, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, Arabic heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Khalil
5 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Khalil fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Boy Name
Khalil is also used as a boy name, ranked #393.
View Khalil as a boy name →Similar Names
See all names like Khalil →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Khalil with...
Same Origin Names (Arabic)
See all Arabic names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Khalil
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Khalil and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Khalil sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Raygen
Girl
Irish Gaelic origin
"little ruler; queenly"
#33,888 in US
Billiejoe
Girl
Hebrew origin
"God will increase"
#33,616 in US
Saul
Girl
Hebrew origin
"asked of God"
#33,510 in US
Tedrina
Girl
Greek origin
"gift of God; feminine form derived fr..."
#33,746 in US
Tishonda
Girl
American English creative naming origin
"bright, flowing one (invented blend)"
#33,608 in US
Jatoya
Girl
American origin
"Modern creative elaboration; victory ..."
#33,598 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Khalil's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Khalil
What does the name Khalil mean?
"friend, companion, intimate" (from Arabic). "close friend, beloved companion" (from Arabic). Khalil derives from the Arabic root 'kh-l-l' (خلل), meaning 'to be friends with' or 'to be intimate.' As a name, it means 'friend' or 'companion' — the same word used in the title 'Khalilullah' (Friend of God), an epithet for the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) in Islamic tradition. While traditionally a male name, Khalil is increasingly embraced as a gender-neutral name in Arab diaspora communities and by families inspired by poet Khalil Gibran.
What is the origin of the name Khalil?
Khalil has Arabic, Muslim, Lebanese, North African, and American origins. In Arabic, it means "friend, companion, intimate". In Arabic, it means "close friend, beloved companion".
Is Khalil a boy or girl name?
Khalil is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #33689. As a boy name, it is ranked #393. Khalil is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Khalil?
Khalil is pronounced k-AL-uhl.
How popular is the name Khalil?
Khalil is currently ranked #33689 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Khalil?
Common nicknames for Khalil include Kali and Khali.
What are good middle names for Khalil?
Popular middle name pairings include Khalil Zara, Khalil Amira, Khalil Layla, Khalil Nour, and Khalil Simone.
What are good sibling names for Khalil?
Names that pair well with Khalil as siblings include Karim, Yasmine, Tariq, Nadia, and Idris.
How many syllables does Khalil have?
Khalil has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Khalil a common or rare name?
Khalil is an uncommon name, ranked #33689 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Khalil?
About the Name Khalil
Khalil is a girl name with Arabic, Muslim, Lebanese, North African, and American origins . The name means "friend, companion, intimate" in Arabic .
Is Khalil a boy or girl name? Khalil is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #33,689 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #393. Khalil is more commonly used as a boy name.
Khalil is currently ranked #33,689 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Khalil has 2 syllables and is pronounced k-AL-uhl, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Khalil include Kali and Khali. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Khalil include Khaleesi, Khalani, Khalia, Khaliyah, Khalessi . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
Keep Exploring
Arabic Names
Browse all names with this origin
K
Names Starting with K
More girl names like Khalil
Rising Names
Names gaining popularity right now
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Girl Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis