Boy name · Arabic
Khalil
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: friend, companionKhalil is a boy's name that comes from Arabic and means "friend, companion". It is used in Arabic and Persian.
- Meaning
- Friend, companion
- Origin
- Arabic
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #384 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Khalil
As a boy's name, Khalil comes from Arabic and means "friend, companion". It is used in Arabic and Persian.
Khalil is also a surname: the 3,649th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 9,492 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Khalil on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Khalil on 1 list.
“Close friend; a title given to Abraham.”
From Arabic names, arabic male names meaning virtue and strength
How popular is Khalil?
- US rank in 2025
- #384
- 826 babies, 484 per million boys
- Best rank
- #251 in 1995
- Most babies: 1,233 in 2020
- Babies since 1957
- At least 25,021
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 4 per million |
| 1970s | 22 per million |
| 1980s | 43 per million |
| 1990s | 253 per million |
| 2000s | 292 per million |
| 2010s | 368 per million |
| 2020s | 590 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #446 | #424 | #395 | #302 | #274 | #294 | #308 | #340 | #392 | #384 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Khalil
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- KhalidEternal, everlasting (Arabic, boy)
- KamilPerfect, complete (Arabic, boy)
- KaliThe black one (Sanskrit, unisex)
- KealiʻiThe chief, the royal one (Hawaiian, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- OscarPossibly deer friend (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- BaldwinBold friend (Germanic, boy)
- BellamyBeautiful friend (Old French, unisex)
- CaraFriend in Irish; beloved in Italian (Irish and Italian, girl)
- RuthFriend (Hebrew, girl)
- AldenOld friend (Old English, boy)
- AlvinElf friend (Old English, boy)
- AmitFriend (Hebrew, unisex)
- AudenFrom Ealdwine, old friend, or Norse Hálfdan (Old English, unisex)
- AudunWealth and friend (Old Norse, boy)
- DakotaFriend, ally (Sioux, unisex)
- EdvinRich friend (Old English, boy)
- EdwinRich friend (Old English, boy)
- ElvinElf friend (Old English, boy)
- EnyinnayaHis father's friend (Igbo, boy)
Middle names for Khalil
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Arabic
- AliHigh, exalted (Arabic, boy)
- AbdullahServant of God (Arabic, boy)
- AhmadMost praiseworthy (Arabic, boy)
- AzizPowerful, respected, beloved (Arabic, boy)
- HaiderLion (Arabic, boy)
- HassanHandsome, good (Arabic, boy)
- MansurVictorious (Arabic, boy)
- MuhammadPraised, praiseworthy (Arabic, boy)
- NoorLight, radiance (Arabic, unisex)
- AdelJust, fair (Arabic, boy)
- AmirPrince, commander (Arabic, boy)
- FalakCelestial sphere, sky (Arabic, unisex)
- FaridUnique, matchless (Arabic, boy)
- FirdausParadise (Arabic, unisex)
- HabibBeloved, darling (Arabic, boy)
- HadiGuide, leader (Arabic, boy)
- HamidPraiseworthy, commendable (Arabic, boy)
- HilalCrescent moon (Arabic, unisex)
Khalil: common questions
What does the name Khalil mean?
Khalil comes from Arabic and means "friend, companion".
Is Khalil a boy or girl name?
Khalil is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Khalil come from?
Khalil comes from Arabic and means "friend, companion". Today it is used in Arabic and Persian.
How popular is the name Khalil?
Khalil ranked #384 in the US in 2025, with 826 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Khalil?
Names spelled like Khalil include Khalid, Kamil, Kali and Kealiʻi.
What middle names go with Khalil?
Middle names that flow well with Khalil include Clark, Elton, Heath, Leo and Louis. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.