NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Khali

An Arabic masculine name meaning "pure" or "sincere".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 3 girls.

Khali is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Khali popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 6 births.

This profile covers 15 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2004 to 2021. 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 15 living people in the UK are called Khali. 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 2022 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Khali ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2014, when 6 boys were registered as Khali.
  • Khali is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 15 living people in the UK are estimated to have Khali as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 83.3% of Khali registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4789

2021

Births in 2021

3

Latest year

Peak year

2014

6 births

Estimated living

15

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Khali

In England and Wales birth records, Khali has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 83.3% of registrations are for boys and 16.7% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

83% boys
17% girls
Boys15 (83.3%)Girls3 (16.7%)

Khali registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,789 in 2021
  • 3 boys registered in 2021
  • Peak: 2014 (6 births)

Khali registered for girls

  • Ranked #5,730 in 2015
  • 3 girls registered in 2015
  • Peak: 2015 (3 births)

Meaning

What does Khali mean?

The name Khali has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "khali," which means "empty" or "vacant." This name was likely given to children born at a time when resources were scarce or during periods of famine or hardship.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Khali can be found in the medieval Arabic text "Kitab al-Aghani" (Book of Songs), written in the 9th century. This anthology of poetry and biographical notes mentions a poet named Khali ibn Ahmad al-Nahrawani, who lived in the 8th century.

In the 11th century, a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist from Persia, Khali ibn Ahmad al-Baydawi, authored a widely-studied commentary on the Qur'an titled "Anwar al-Tanzil wa Asrar al-Ta'wil" (The Lights of Revelation and the Secrets of Interpretation).

During the 13th century, a famous Sufi mystic and poet named Khali ibn Abdul-Qadir al-Jilani was born in Baghdad. He was known for his spiritual teachings and his collection of poetry, which explored themes of love and devotion to God.

In the 15th century, a prominent Arabic calligrapher named Khali ibn Ahmad al-Naqash gained recognition for his exceptional skills in the art of calligraphy. His works were highly prized and can be found in various museums and collections around the world.

Another notable figure with the name Khali was Khali ibn Ishaq al-Jundi, a 17th-century Ottoman scholar and historian who authored several works on the history of the Ottoman Empire and the life of Sultan Murad IV.

While the name Khali has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, it has been adopted and used in various regions and communities over the centuries, carrying with it a rich historical and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Khali over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Khali in England and Wales, from 2004 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Khali, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
02356200420122021

Decades

Khali by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Khali 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 3 1
2010s #3857 9 2
2000s #3651 3 1

Related

Names similar to Khali

FAQ

Khali: questions and answers

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

In 2021, Khali was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Khali most popular?

The peak year on record was 2014, with 6 babies registered as Khali in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Khali?

An Arabic masculine name meaning "pure" or "sincere".

How many people are called Khali in the UK?

A total of 15 babies have been registered as Khali 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.