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Kalila

♀ Girl

Kalila Pronunciation

Kalila is pronounced kə-LEE-lah /kəˈli.lɑ/High

Meaning: Beloved, darling, sweetheart; the feminine of Khalil, 'dear friend', from ArabicHigh

In 30 seconds: Beloved, distilled to three sweet syllables: Kalila is Arabic for the dear one, the darling — feminine of Khalil, 'beloved friend'. And it titles one of the world's oldest fable collections.

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Origin HighArabic

MeaningBeloved, darling, sweetheart; the feminine of Khalil, 'dear friend', from Arabic

U.S. rank (2024)#3665 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births42 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2019

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,116

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Kalila is the feminine of Khalil — Arabic khalil, 'beloved friend, intimate companion' — meaning 'beloved, darling'. It titles the classic fable collection Kalila wa Dimna and has been a tender Arabic name for centuries.

In the U.S. it appears in Arab and Muslim families, easy on Western tongues. Rare, beloved at the root, and story-rich.

Did you know? 'Kalila wa Dimna' — the ancient Arabic fable collection named for two jackals — is one of the most translated books in history, an Eastern cousin of Aesop; the name carries a whole storytelling tradition.

Overall data confidence 85%

Behind the Name — Kalila — etymology

Variations

KahlilaKhalilaKalilah

Nicknames

KaliLila

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kalila…

Layla— a fellow soft Arabic classic

Jamila— the companion beauty-name

Amira— another Arabic crossover favorite

Khalyla— lands in the same popularity range

Dalila— shares Kalila's Arabic roots

→ See all names like Kalila

Browse the whole category: All Arabic names → · All origins →

Frequently Asked

How do you pronounce Kalila?

Kalila is pronounced kə-LEE-lah (/kəˈli.lɑ/). Press play above to hear Kalila said aloud.

How do you say Kalila?

Kalila is said kə-LEE-lah (/kəˈli.lɑ/). Press play above to hear Kalila said aloud.

What does the name Kalila mean?

Kalila is Arabic for 'beloved, darling' — the feminine of Khalil, 'dear friend'.

Is Kalila a boy or girl name?

Kalila is a girl's name.

How popular is Kalila?

Kalila is a rare name in the U.S. and classic in the Arab world.