Khalil
Meaning of Khalil
Khalil (kuh-LEEL) arrives on the tongue like a tabla beat—quick, bright, and friendly. Born from Arabic roots, his very meaning is “dear friend,” the honor once given to the prophet Abraham, history’s original buddy. In Urdu shayari and Bollywood scripts alike, Khalil slips in like the hero who brings warm chai on a rainy day, while across the ocean the name has sprinted up U.S. charts since the ’90s, proving charm travels faster than a Mumbai auto-rickshaw. Literary lovers think of Khalil Gibran, whose words float like jasmine in the night, and parents hear a promise: this little boy will build bridges wherever he toddles. Khalil is simple to say, rich to feel, and playful enough to fit a cricket field nickname—“K!”—so anyone seeking a name that glows with friendship and global flair might just find their perfect match here.
Pronunciation
Arabic
- Pronunced as kuh-LEEL (/kæˈliːl/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Khalil
| Khalil Mack is an American NFL linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers who starred at Buffalo and was drafted fifth overall by the Oakland Raiders in 2014. |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. - Khalil Ibn Rountree Jr. is an American mixed martial artist in the UFC light heavyweight division, ranked number four as of June 2025. |
| Khalil Herbert is an American NFL running back and return specialist for the Seattle Seahawks who starred at Kansas and Virginia Tech, was a 2021 sixth round pick by the Chicago Bears, and has also played for the Cincinnati Bengals. |
| Khalil Gibran Muhammad is an American scholar, the inaugural Princeton professor of African American Studies and Public Affairs who leads the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project, and a former Harvard professor and director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. |
| Khalil Tate is an American former quarterback who played at the University of Arizona and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as a wide receiver in 2020. |
| Khalil Halilu is a Nigerian tech entrepreneur serving as executive vice chairman and CEO of NASENI, appointed by President Bola Tinubu in September 2023. |
| Khalil Georges Khamis is a Lebanese footballer who plays center back for Nejmeh and the Lebanon national team. |
