Kahlill
A masculine Arabic name meaning "friend" or "companion".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Kahlill. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kahlill today is around 30 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kahlill births was 1995 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kahlill. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Kahlill. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1995
5 babies that year
Average age
30
years old
1995 SSA rank
#9,573
Tracked since 1995
Popularity
Kahlill: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Kahlill by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Kahlill during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Kahlill
The name Kahlill is believed to have its origins in the Arabic language, with roots that can be traced back to the Middle Eastern region during the medieval period. The name is thought to be derived from the Arabic word "khalil," which translates to "friend" or "beloved." It is often associated with the concept of friendship, affection, and endearment.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kahlill can be found in the context of Islamic literature and religious texts. The name is mentioned in the Qur'an, where it is used as a title for the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). In this context, Kahlill is used to denote Ibrahim's close friendship with Allah, making it a name of significant spiritual and religious significance.
Throughout history, the name Kahlill has been borne by various notable figures from the Arab world and beyond. One of the most renowned individuals with this name is the 12th-century Persian poet and philosopher, Kahlill Gibran (1883-1931). Gibran's literary works, such as "The Prophet" and "The Madman," have had a profound impact on modern literature and philosophy.
Another notable figure was Kahlill ibn Ishaq (718-786), a renowned Arab mathematician and astronomer from the Abbasid Caliphate. His contributions to the fields of algebra and trigonometry were significant and helped shape the development of mathematics in the Islamic Golden Age.
In the realm of politics, Kahlill al-Wazir (1933-1973), also known as Khalil al-Wazir, was a prominent Palestinian leader and co-founder of the Fatah political party. He played a crucial role in the Palestinian national movement and was deeply involved in the struggle for Palestinian independence.
The name Kahlill has also been carried by individuals in the arts and entertainment industry. Kahlill Gibran (1922-2008), an American-Lebanese painter and writer, was known for his works exploring themes of spirituality and human nature. Additionally, Kahlill Ashanti (born 1967) is a notable American actor and martial artist, known for his roles in films such as "Belly" and "Biker Boyz."
While the name Kahlill has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and has been adopted by individuals from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities. Its association with friendship, affection, and spiritual significance has contributed to its enduring popularity throughout history.
People
Kahlill + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kahlill as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kahlill: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kahlill?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kahlill going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Kahlill a common name?
We classify Kahlill as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kahlill most popular?
The single biggest year for Kahlill was 1995, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kahlill is about 30 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Kahlill in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kahlill a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kahlill in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Kahlill still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kahlill in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Kahlill can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Kahlill as a first name?
You can see how many people share the name Kahlill on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.