Find out how popular the first name Khalifah has been for the last 29 years (from 1993 to 2021) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Khalifah by gender

Based on the last 29 years of data, Khalifah is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2021, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Khalifah.

The history of the first name Khalifah

The name Khalifah is derived from the Arabic word "khalifa" which means "successor" or "representative". It has its roots in the early Islamic period when the title "Khalifah" was used for the successors of Prophet Muhammad as the supreme civil and religious leaders of the Muslim community.

The first Khalifah was Abu Bakr, who assumed leadership after the death of Prophet Muhammad in 632 CE. He was followed by Umar ibn al-Khattab (634–644 CE), Uthman ibn Affan (644–656 CE), and Ali ibn Abi Talib (656–661 CE). These four leaders are known as the "Rightly Guided Caliphs" in Islamic history.

The name Khalifah has been used by various rulers and leaders throughout the Islamic world. One of the most notable examples is Harun al-Rashid (786–809 CE), the fifth Abbasid Caliph, who is renowned for his patronage of arts, science, and literature during the Islamic Golden Age.

Another significant figure bearing the name Khalifah was Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (996–1021 CE), the sixth Fatimid Caliph in Egypt. He was known for his eccentric behavior and controversial policies, including the persecution of Christians and Jews.

In the Ottoman Empire, the title "Khalifah" was used for the Sultan, who was considered the spiritual and temporal leader of the Muslim world. One of the most famous Ottoman Sultans was Suleiman the Magnificent (1494–1566), who ruled during the peak of the empire's power and expansion.

Beyond political and religious leaders, the name Khalifah has also been used by various scholars and artists throughout history. One notable example is Khalifah al-Mahdawi (d. 1057 CE), a renowned Arabic poet and literary critic from Baghdad.

While the name Khalifah has its origins in the Middle East and the Islamic world, it has been adopted and used in various cultures and regions. It continues to be a popular name choice for Muslim families, carrying with it a rich historical and cultural significance.

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 Khalifah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!