Khalim
A masculine Arabic name meaning "gentle" or "friend".
Name Census estimates that about 7 living Americans carry the first name Khalim. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Khalim today is around 29 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Khalim births was 1996 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Khalim. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Khalim with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Khalim. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
7
~ 1 in 48,964,905 Americans
Peak year
1996
7 babies that year
Average age
29
years old
1996 SSA rank
#7,589
Tracked since 1996
Popularity
Khalim: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Khalim 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 Khalim 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 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Khalim
The name Khalim is of Arabic origin, deriving from the word "khalim" which means "friend" or "companion." It emerged in the Middle East during the early centuries of Islam, around the 7th century CE.
The name Khalim has deep roots in Islamic culture and tradition. It is believed to have been used by some of the early Islamic scholars and thinkers, though specific historical references are scarce. However, the name is thought to have gained popularity among Muslim communities as a way to honor the virtues of friendship and companionship, which are highly valued in Islamic teachings.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Khalim can be found in the writings of the renowned Muslim philosopher and polymath, Al-Farabi, who lived from 872 to 950 CE. He is often referred to as the "Second Teacher" after Aristotle, and his works had a significant influence on the development of Islamic philosophy and science.
Another notable figure who bore the name Khalim was the 12th-century Sufi mystic and poet, Khalim al-Din al-Attar. He was born in Nishapur, Persia (present-day Iran) in 1145 CE and is best known for his epic poem, "The Conference of the Birds," which explored the spiritual journey of the soul towards union with the divine.
In the 13th century, there was a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist named Khalim ibn Ismail al-Juwayni. He was born in Nisha, Persia, in 1226 CE and served as the chief judge of Nishapur. Al-Juwayni made significant contributions to the field of Islamic jurisprudence and was widely respected for his knowledge and wisdom.
Moving forward in history, the name Khalim can also be found among Ottoman rulers and noblemen. One such figure was Khalim Pasha, who served as the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire from 1683 to 1688 CE. He played a crucial role in the Ottoman-Habsburg wars and was known for his military prowess and leadership abilities.
In more recent times, the name Khalim has been carried by various intellectuals, artists, and public figures across the Arab world. For instance, Khalim Mahmoud was an Egyptian writer and political activist born in 1920 CE. He was known for his leftist views and his advocacy for social justice and workers' rights.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the name Khalim throughout history. While the name may not be as widely known as some others, it holds deep cultural and spiritual significance within the Islamic tradition, reflecting the importance of friendship, companionship, and the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.
People
Khalim + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Khalim 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
Khalim: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Khalim?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 7 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Khalim 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 48,964,905 US residents.
Is Khalim a common name?
We classify Khalim as "Very Rare". It ranks above 23.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 7 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Khalim most popular?
The single biggest year for Khalim was 1996, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Khalim is about 29 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 Khalim in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Khalim a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Khalim 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 Khalim still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Khalim 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 Khalim 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 are called Khalim?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.