Holding steady, #4,139 for boys today.
Popularity of Khalifa since 1986
Babies named Khalifa per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2018, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Khalifa's real moment was 2024.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 22 |
| 2000s | 36 |
| 2010s | 188 |
| 2020s | 134 |
Meaning & origin
Khalifa entered U.S. birth records in 1986 and has seen modest but steady use, with a peak in 2024. In 2025, it ranked 4139th with approximately 1 in 68,323 boys receiving the name. Its use is most concentrated in Texas, likely reflecting Arabic-speaking communities. The name's trajectory remains stable in the 2020s, without a dramatic revival. While not among the most popular Arabic names in the U.S., Khalifa carries significant cultural and religious weight, tied to the historical caliphate. Parents today may be drawn to its dignified meaning and distinctive sound.
Khalifa derives from the Arabic root kh-l-f (خلف), meaning 'to succeed' or 'to follow.' The title 'caliph' (khalīfah) historically referred to the political and religious successor to the Prophet Muhammad, leader of the Islamic community. As a given name, it has been used across the Muslim world, though it remains less common than related names like Khalid or Khalil.
Where Khalifa is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Khalifa” around the world
Where Khalifa lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
30
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Khal, Khalif
Variants: Khalif, Khaleefa
Sibling names for Khalifa
Names that share Khalifa's style, for a brother or sister.
