Boy · #12,301 in 2026

Kalif

A caliphate is an institution or public office under the leadership of an Islamic steward with the title of caliph, a person considered a political–religious successor to the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a leader of the entire Muslim world (ummah). Historically, the caliphates were polities based on Islam which developed into multi-ethnic trans-national empires.

Current Rank
#12,301
Peak Rank
#2,556 (1994)
Total Babies
407
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1974
First Year
2024
Last Year
1994
Peak Year
#2556
Peak Rank
407
Total Count
38
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Kalif

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

A caliphate is an institution or public office under the leadership of an Islamic steward with the title of caliph, a person considered a political–religious successor to the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a leader of the entire Muslim world (ummah). Historically, the caliphates were polities based on Islam which developed into multi-ethnic trans-national empires.

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

Etymology
Before the advent of Islam, Arabian monarchs traditionally used the title malik 'king', or another from the same Semitic root . The term caliph ( / ˈ k eɪ l ɪ f , ˈ k æ l ɪ f / ) derives from the Arabic word khalīfah ( خليفة , pronunciation ⓘ ), meaning 'successor', 'steward', or 'deputy', and has traditionally been considered a shortening of Khalīfah rasūl Allāh 'successor of the messenger of God'. However, studies of pre-Islamic texts suggest that the original meaning of the phrase was 'successor selected by God'.

The Story of Kalif

Kalif first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1974, with 8 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1994, when 29 Kalifs were born — ranking #2,556 that year. As of 2026, Kalif ranks #12,301 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 407 Kalifs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
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WI
MI
NY
VT
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OR
ID
SD
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IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
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RI
CA
NV
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NE
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MD
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OK
LA
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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Kalif

Phonetically similar names — useful when Kalif 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 Kalif

What does the name Kalif mean?
A caliphate is an institution or public office under the leadership of an Islamic steward with the title of caliph, a person considered a political–religious successor to the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a leader of the entire Muslim world (ummah). Historically, the caliphates were polities based on Islam which developed into multi-ethnic trans-national empires.
How popular is Kalif in 2026?
In 2026, Kalif ranks #12,301 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Kalif most popular?
Kalif reached its peak popularity in 1994, ranking #2,556 that year with 29 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Kalif most popular?
Kalif has historically been most popular in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Kalif.
Is Kalif a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Kalif is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Kalif?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Kalif include Raef, Trebor, Pawel. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Raef
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👦
Trebor
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👦
Pawel
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👦
Jovonte
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👦
Ashad
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👦
Kodiak
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👦
Ajee
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Aeneas
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About the name Kalif

Kalif is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1974 and has accumulated 407 births in the dataset. Kalif's peak popularity came in 1994 when it ranked #2,556. Use the chart and map above to compare Kalif'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.