Kelila first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Kelila has been for the last 42 years (from 1981 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Kelila

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "friend" or "companion".

Popularity of Kelila by gender

Based on the last 42 years of data, Kelila is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Kelila.

Year Male Count Female Count
2022 0 5
2015 0 5
2009 0 5
2007 0 5
1996 0 6
1993 0 5
1981 0 7

The history of the first name Kelila

The name Kelila is of Hebrew origin and can be traced back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "kelil," which means "crown" or "wreath." The name is believed to have been first used as a nickname or term of endearment, referring to someone who was considered a precious jewel or a crowning achievement.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Kelila dates back to the 12th century, when it appeared in the medieval Jewish text "Kuzari," written by the Spanish-Jewish philosopher and poet Judah Halevi. In this work, Kelila is mentioned as the name of a wise and learned woman who engaged in philosophical discussions with the king of the Khazars.

In the 16th century, a prominent Jewish scholar and kabbalist named Kelila ben Moses ben Shem Tov lived in Safed, Palestine. He was known for his expertise in the study of the Zohar, a foundational text of Jewish mysticism.

During the 17th century, Kelila Maraviglia was an Italian writer and poet from Venice. She was part of a literary circle and gained recognition for her poetic works, which were published in several collections.

In the 19th century, Kelila Aben Guzmán was a Spanish writer and journalist who contributed to various publications and advocated for women's rights and education.

Another notable figure with the name Kelila was Kelila Merker, a German-American painter and art educator who lived from 1905 to 1998. She was known for her vibrant abstract expressionist works and taught at various art institutions throughout her career.

While the name Kelila has its roots in Hebrew and Jewish culture, it has also been adopted by various cultures and communities around the world, each with their own interpretations and associations with the name.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Kelila was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kelila, please contact us.

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"Kelila first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 4, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/kelila-meaning-and-history/.

"Kelila first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/kelila-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 4 October, 2025

Kelila first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/kelila-meaning-and-history/.

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