Khal
An Arabic masculine name meaning "friend" or "eternal".
Name Census estimates that about 14 living Americans carry the first name Khal. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Khal today is around 7 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Khal births was 2018 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Khal. 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 Khal. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
14
~ 1 in 24,482,453 Americans
Peak year
2018
9 babies that year
Average age
7
years old
2020 SSA rank
#13,156
Tracked since 2018
Popularity
Khal: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Khal from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 9 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Khal remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Khal 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 Khal during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Khal
The name Khal has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "khalil," which means "friend" or "beloved." It is believed to have emerged during the early Islamic period, around the 7th century CE, when Arabic culture and language were rapidly spreading across the Middle East and North Africa.
The name's connection to the Arabic word "khalil" suggests that it may have been initially used as a term of endearment or a descriptor for someone who was highly regarded and valued as a close friend or companion. As the name gained popularity, it likely transitioned into a formal given name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Khal can be found in the writings of the famous Arab philosopher and polymath, Al-Kindi, who lived in the 9th century CE. He mentions a person named Khal ibn Yazid, who was a prominent scholar and historian during that era.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Khal. One such individual was Khal Mirza, a Persian prince and governor who lived in the 16th century and played a significant role in the Safavid dynasty's military campaigns.
Another noteworthy figure was Khal Paja, a renowned military leader and governor in Bengal during the 17th century. He is remembered for his valor and leadership in defending the region against invading Mughal forces.
In the 18th century, Khal Khan was a prominent military commander and statesman in the Durrani Empire, which ruled over present-day Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan and Iran. He is credited with consolidating the empire's power and expanding its territories through successful military campaigns.
Moving to the 20th century, Khal Nayar was an Indian filmmaker and screenwriter who made significant contributions to the Hindi film industry. He was born in 1917 and is best known for his critically acclaimed films such as "Deedar" and "Bandini."
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Khal throughout history, spanning various cultures, regions, and eras. While the name's origins can be traced back to the Arabic language, it has been adopted and used across different communities, reflecting its enduring appeal and the cultural exchange that has taken place over centuries.
People
Khal + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Khal 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
Khal: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Khal?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 14 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Khal 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 24,482,453 US residents.
Is Khal a common name?
We classify Khal as "Very Rare". It ranks above 34% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 14 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Khal most popular?
The single biggest year for Khal was 2018, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Khal is about 7 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 Khal in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Khal a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Khal 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 Khal still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Khal 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 Khal 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 Khal as a first name?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.