Boy · #10,812 in 2026

Khaleef

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
#10,812
Peak Rank
#5,981 (1996)
Total Babies
96
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1982
First Year
2023
Last Year
1996
Peak Year
#5981
Peak Rank
96
Total Count
16
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Khaleef

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 Khaleef

Khaleef first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1982, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1996, when 9 Khaleefs were born — ranking #5,981 that year. As of 2026, Khaleef ranks #10,812 for baby boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 96 Khaleefs 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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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Khaleef

Phonetically similar names — useful when Khaleef 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 Khaleef

What does the name Khaleef 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 Khaleef in 2026?
In 2026, Khaleef ranks #10,812 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Khaleef most popular?
Khaleef reached its peak popularity in 1996, ranking #5,981 that year with 9 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Khaleef most popular?
Khaleef has historically been most popular in Pennsylvania. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Khaleef.
Is Khaleef a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Khaleef is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Khaleef?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Khaleef include Stalin, Juane, Shondale. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Khaleef

Khaleef is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1982 and has accumulated 96 births in the dataset. Khaleef's peak popularity came in 1996 when it ranked #5,981. Use the chart and map above to compare Khaleef'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.