Boy · #12,053 in 2026

Kaleef

Kaliphz were a British hip hop group, formed in Rochdale by 2-Phaan and Jabba da Hype. They began as part of the breakdancing scene in the early 1980s before branching out into spoken word and rap as other members joined the group. The group had a constantly shifting membership and various name changes reflected this.

Current Rank
#12,053
Peak Rank
#5,926 (1986)
Total Babies
26
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1980
First Year
2006
Last Year
1986
Peak Year
#5926
Peak Rank
26
Total Count
5
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Kaleef

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Kaliphz were a British hip hop group, formed in Rochdale by 2-Phaan and Jabba da Hype. They began as part of the breakdancing scene in the early 1980s before branching out into spoken word and rap as other members joined the group. The group had a constantly shifting membership and various name changes reflected this.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
Kaliphz were formed in Rochdale (a working class town in Greater Manchester ) by the British Asians 2-Phaan and Jabba da Hype. Inspired by a performance of the Rock Steady Crew they saw in 1982, the duo formed a breakdance and graffiti crew called Dizzy Footwork, Dizzy footwork were formed and inspired by the Original Members of Dizzy Footwork Crew Mush, Zulf, and Peps childhood friends from the Wardleworth area of Rochdale. Kaliphz were ultimately born out of Dizzy footwork. Mush and Jabba also began to do rap based politically charged spoken word performances under the name Nu Konshus Kaliph

The Story of Kaleef

Kaleef first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1980, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1986, when 6 Kaleefs were born — ranking #5,926 that year. As of 2026, Kaleef ranks #12,053 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 26 Kaleefs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Names that sound like Kaleef

Phonetically similar names — useful when Kaleef is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kaleef

What does the name Kaleef mean?
Kaliphz were a British hip hop group, formed in Rochdale by 2-Phaan and Jabba da Hype. They began as part of the breakdancing scene in the early 1980s before branching out into spoken word and rap as other members joined the group. The group had a constantly shifting membership and various name changes reflected this.
How popular is Kaleef in 2026?
In 2026, Kaleef ranks #12,053 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Kaleef most popular?
Kaleef reached its peak popularity in 1986, ranking #5,926 that year with 6 babies given the name.
Is Kaleef a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Kaleef is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Kaleef?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Kaleef include Claudel, Courtlandt, Timohy. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Claudel
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Courtlandt
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Timohy
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Trahern
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Garbiel
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Ranardo
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Thadeous
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Branoon
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About the name Kaleef

Kaleef is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1980 and has accumulated 26 births in the dataset. Kaleef's peak popularity came in 1986 when it ranked #5,926. Use the chart and map above to compare Kaleef's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.