NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Kahlil

A masculine Arabic name meaning "friend" or "companion".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Kahlil is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kahlil popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 10 births.

This profile covers 47 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2002 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 47 living people in the UK are called Kahlil. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Kahlil ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2022, when 10 boys were registered as Kahlil.
  • About 47 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kahlil as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3688

2024

Births in 2024

5

Latest year

Peak year

2022

10 births

Estimated living

47

2026

Meaning

What does Kahlil mean?

The name Kahlil has its origins in the Arabic language. It is derived from the Arabic word "khalil," which means "friend" or "beloved." The name has been in use since ancient times in the Middle East and North Africa.

In Islam, "Khalil" is one of the names used to refer to the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham in the Christian and Jewish traditions). It is believed that he was given this title because of his close friendship with God. As such, the name Kahlil has a strong association with Islamic culture and religious traditions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kahlil can be found in the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam, where it is used to refer to the Prophet Ibrahim. This usage dates back to the 7th century CE.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Kahlil. One of the most famous was Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931), a Lebanese-American poet, philosopher, and artist. He is best known for his poetic work "The Prophet," which has been translated into more than 100 languages.

Another notable figure was Kahlil al-Ghuri (1466-1516), the second sultan of the Mamluk Burji dynasty in Egypt. He is remembered for his military campaigns against the Ottoman Empire and his patronage of architecture, including the construction of several mosques and madrasas.

In the realm of science, Kahlil ibn Ahmad al-Nahwi (fl. 10th century CE) was an Arab grammarian and scholar who wrote extensively on Arabic linguistics and grammar.

The name Kahlil has also been borne by religious figures, such as Kahlil ibn Ahmad (1211-1286), a renowned Sufi mystic and poet from present-day Iran.

Lastly, Kahlil Baidas (1917-2003) was a prominent Egyptian writer and journalist who played a significant role in the Arab literary renaissance during the 20th century.

These examples demonstrate the rich history and cultural significance of the name Kahlil across various fields, from literature and philosophy to religion, politics, and academia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Kahlil over time

The chart below shows babies named Kahlil registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Kahlil, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Kahlil
035810200220132024

Decades

Kahlil by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kahlil was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #3642 22 4
2010s #4007 16 4
2000s #3000 9 2

Related

Names similar to Kahlil

FAQ

Kahlil: questions and answers

How popular is the name Kahlil in the UK right now?

In 2024, Kahlil was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Kahlil most popular?

The peak year on record was 2022, with 10 babies registered as Kahlil in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Kahlil?

A masculine Arabic name meaning "friend" or "companion".

How many people are called Kahlil in the UK?

A total of 47 babies have been registered as Kahlil across the 10 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.