How to say it
kha · LIL
/kɑːˈliːl/
Masculine
Khalil
Friend, close companion
What it means
Arabic, 'friend' or 'close companion'; al-Khalil, 'the friend of God,' is an epithet of the prophet Abraham.
Khalil is Arabic for 'friend' or 'devoted companion.' Its deepest resonance is al-Khalil, 'the friend of God,' a title given to the prophet Abraham, which also names the West Bank city of Hebron in Arabic. The Lebanese-American poet Khalil Gibran, author of The Prophet, is its most famous bearer. It is honored across the Muslim world and well used in Black American families. Said kah-LEEL.
Popularity over time
peaked at #251 in 1995, currently #384 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Worth knowing
Means 'friend'; al-Khalil, 'friend of God,' is an epithet of Abraham. Honored across Muslim communities.
- Pronunciation
kah-LEEL.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Khalil Gibran Lebanese-American poet, author of The Prophet
Spelling variants
- Khaleel
- Kalil
- Halil