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Home › Baby Names Directory › Khalilah

Khalilah

♀ Girl

Pronounced khə-LEE-lah /xəˈli.lɑ/Medium

Meaning: From Arabic Khalila, 'a close friend; a beloved companion, a bosom friend' (the feminine of Khalil)Medium

In 30 seconds: A beloved friend: Khalilah is Arabic for 'a close friend, a beloved companion'. Warm, soft, and lovely.
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Origin MediumArabic
MeaningFrom Arabic Khalila, 'a close friend; a beloved companion, a bosom friend' (the feminine of Khalil)
U.S. rank (2025)#5041 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births26 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1976
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,699

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197619752025

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

Khalilah comes from Arabic Khalila, 'a close friend; a beloved companion, a bosom friend' (the feminine of Khalil, 'friend'; Abraham was called Khalilullah, 'the friend of God'). A warm, soft name across the Arab world.

In the U.S. it appears in Muslim families. Rare, a-close-friend at the root, and warm.

Did you know? Khalilah means 'a close friend; a beloved companion' in Arabic (the feminine of Khalil, 'friend'; an epithet of Abraham, 'the friend of God') — a warm, soft name.
Overall data confidence 78%
Arabic references — Khalila — etymology

Variations

KhalilaKalilaKhaleela

Nicknames

Lila

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Khalilah…

Kalila— a companion spelling
Jamila— another -ila Arabic girls' name
Nadia— a fellow soft Arabic name
Khadijah— a similarly popular pick
Kamilah— another Arabic name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Khalilah mean?

Khalilah is Arabic for 'a close friend; a beloved companion'.

How do you pronounce Khalilah?

It's said khə-LEE-lah /xəˈli.lɑ/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Khalilah a boy or girl name?

Khalilah is a girl's name.

How popular is Khalilah?

Khalilah is a rare name in the U.S.

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