Khadija

Meaning of Khadija

Khadija stems from classical Arabic and literally refers to “one who arrives early,” yet its deeper resonance lies in history: Khadija bint Khuwaylid, the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad, respected trader and the earliest believer in Islam. The name has traveled from the souks of Mecca to the barrios of Bogotá, prized for the ideals of foresight, independence and spiritual leadership it evokes. In the United States its footprint is modest but persistent; Social Security figures record an ascent from single-digit births in the late 1960s to 231 newborns in 2024, a rank of 720 that hints at quiet growth. Alternate spellings—Khadijah, Hadija and others—appear worldwide, yet the steady, soft kuh-DEE-juh pronunciation preserves a dignified musicality across tongues. Anchored in history while adaptable to modern life, Khadija offers parents a choice that feels both grounded and globally fluent.