UK boy's name
Khaleef
Leader, successor to a sovereign or ruler in Arabic.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Khaleef is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Khaleef popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 3 births.
This profile covers 12 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2017 to 2022. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 12 living people in the UK are called Khaleef. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Khaleef ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 3 boys were registered as Khaleef.
- • About 12 living people in the UK are estimated to have Khaleef as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2017
3 births
Estimated living
12
2026
Meaning
What does Khaleef mean?
The name Khaleef is of Arabic origin and is derived from the Arabic word "Khalifa," which means "successor" or "deputy." It has its roots in the Islamic tradition, where the term "Khalifa" was used to refer to the successors of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who ruled the Muslim community after his death.
The name Khaleef first appeared in historical records during the early Islamic period, specifically in the 7th century CE. It gained prominence after the establishment of the Rashidun Caliphate, which was the first Islamic caliphate ruled by the rightly guided successors of Prophet Muhammad.
One of the earliest and most notable figures to bear the name Khaleef was Khalifah Abu Bakr (573-634 CE), who became the first Caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate after the death of Prophet Muhammad. He was a close companion of the Prophet and played a crucial role in the early spread of Islam.
Another prominent figure with the name Khaleef was Khalifah Umar ibn al-Khattab (586-644 CE), who was the second Caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate. He is revered for his leadership, wisdom, and implementation of Islamic laws and principles during his reign.
In the later centuries, the name Khaleef continued to be used by various Islamic rulers and leaders. One such figure was Khalifah Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (985-1021 CE), who was the sixth Fatimid Caliph and ruled over parts of present-day Egypt, Syria, and Palestine.
During the Abbasid Caliphate, which lasted from the 8th to the 13th century CE, several caliphs bore the name Khaleef, including Khalifah Al-Mu'tasim (794-842 CE) and Khalifah Al-Mutawakkil (822-861 CE).
In more recent history, Khaleef has been used by various public figures and prominent individuals. For example, Khaleef Ahmed Husain (1927-2005) was an Indian historian and writer who made significant contributions to the study of Islamic history and culture.
It is worth noting that the name Khaleef has also been used in various literary works and historical texts throughout the centuries, further solidifying its significance and connection to the Islamic tradition.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Khaleef over time
The chart below shows babies named Khaleef registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2017 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Khaleef, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Khaleef by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Khaleef 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 | #4789 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4781 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Khaleef
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Khaleef: questions and answers
How popular is the name Khaleef in the UK right now?
In 2022, Khaleef was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Khaleef most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 3 babies registered as Khaleef in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Khaleef?
Leader, successor to a sovereign or ruler in Arabic.
How many people are called Khaleef in the UK?
A total of 12 babies have been registered as Khaleef across the 4 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.