Holding steady, #4,249 for boys today.
Popularity of Khalif since 1970
Babies named Khalif per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1992, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Khalif's real moment was 2013.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 120 |
| 1980s | 272 |
| 1990s | 457 |
| 2000s | 298 |
| 2010s | 409 |
| 2020s | 184 |
Meaning & origin
Khalif first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1970, reflecting the growing diversity of naming practices. Its peak popularity came in 2013, though it has since remained a relatively uncommon choice, ranking 4249th in 2025. The name's direct connection to the Arabic term for 'caliph' gives it a weighty religious and historical significance, yet its sound fits comfortably alongside more familiar names like Malak or Jamal. With a stable trajectory and no strong regional concentration, Khalif stands as a meaningful option for families seeking a name with deep roots in Islamic civilization.
Khalif is an English transcription of the Arabic word khalīfah (خليفة), meaning 'successor' or 'deputy.' In Islamic history, the title was used for the head of state after the Prophet Muhammad, beginning with the Rashidun caliphs. The name has been used in Muslim communities worldwide and entered English usage as a given name in the mid-20th century, rising in popularity in the United States from the 1970s onward.
“Khalif” around the world
Where Khalif lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kal, Khal
Sibling names for Khalif
Names that share Khalif's style, for a brother or sister.
