Boy · #4,618 in 2026

Khalif

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
#4,618
Peak Rank
#1,598 (1992)
Total Babies
2K
5-Yr Trend
-40%
1970
First Year
2026
Last Year
1992
Peak Year
#1598
Peak Rank
2K
Total Count
56
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Khalif

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 Khalif

Khalif first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1970, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1992, when 55 Khalifs were born — ranking #1,598 that year. As of 2026, Khalif ranks #4,618 for baby boys with 22 births, falling sharply (-40%). In total, more than 2K Khalifs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s 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 Khalif

Phonetically similar names — useful when Khalif 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 Khalif

What does the name Khalif 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 Khalif in 2026?
In 2026, Khalif ranks #4,618 among boys' names in the U.S., with 22 babies given the name that year.
When was Khalif most popular?
Khalif reached its peak popularity in 1992, ranking #1,598 that year with 55 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Khalif most popular?
Khalif has historically been most popular in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Khalif.
Is Khalif a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Khalif is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Khalif?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Khalif include Pilar, Fransico, Raun. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Khalif

Khalif is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1970 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Khalif's peak popularity came in 1992 when it ranked #1,598. Use the chart and map above to compare Khalif'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.