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Home › Baby Names Directory › Kahlil

Kahlil

♂ Boy

Pronounced kha-LEEL /xa.ˈliːl/Medium

Meaning: FriendMedium

In 30 seconds: Kahlil is an Arabic boy's name meaning 'friend'. It is a familiar spelling of the name also written Khalil.
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Origin MediumArabic
MeaningFriend
U.S. rank (2025)#2623 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births50 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1995
Total births (all-time)≈ 4,283

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199519672025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

The name means 'friend' in Arabic, a warm and direct sense. Kahlil is one accepted spelling, with the variant Halil reflecting how the name shifts across languages. The simple meaning has kept it in steady use.

Bearers are listed under the Khalil spelling, including Khalil Ghanim (born 1964) and Khalil Chemmam (born 1987). The two long syllables give Kahlil a smooth, flowing sound.

Did you know? Kahlil is a spelling variant of Khalil, so it keeps the same core meaning of 'friend' while changing the visual style.
Overall data confidence 70%
Behind the Name - Kahlil — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

Halil

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

  • ★Khalil Ghanim (1964–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Khalil Chemmam (1987–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Kahlil…

Khalil— The common alternate spelling of the same 'friend' name.
Jamil— Another Arabic boy's name with a similar sound and -il ending.
Kamil— Shares the Arabic origin and the soft two-syllable shape.
Jibril— echoes that soft -il sound
Sahil— echoes that soft -il sound

Explore names like Kahlil

By themearabic

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kahlil mean?

Kahlil is usually explained as meaning 'friend' and is most often linked with Arabic tradition.

How do you pronounce Kahlil?

It's commonly said kha-LEEL /xa.ˈliːl/.

Is Kahlil a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Kahlil is used as a boy name.

How popular is Kahlil?

In 2024, Kahlil ranked #1894 in the U.S. for boys, with 84 births recorded.

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