Boy name
Halil name meaning
“close friend; intimate companion”
Halil means close friend or intimate companion. It comes from Arabic ḫalīl and is used as a masculine given name in Türkiye. The word expresses a particularly close friendship. Its use as an epithet of Abraham also explains the familiar compound name Halil İbrahim.
- Gender
- ♂ Boy
- Origin
- Arabic
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity
- In TÜİK lists
What does Halil mean?
Close friend; intimate companion
In Turkish: çok yakın dost, gönül dostu
Halil denotes a bond closer than ordinary acquaintance. Its Islamic association comes especially from Abraham's epithet Khalilullah, friend of God. The Turkish compound Halil İbrahim and the expression Halil İbrahim sofrası, associated with generous hospitality, preserve this historical and narrative connection.
How popular is Halil?
Official figures: TÜİK newborn name lists (2018–2025, the top 30 for Türkiye and each of the 81 provinces every year) and the most common names in the population.
- Province lists
- 33provinces
- Boys named Halil in Türkiye (2025)
- 227,081
Where is Halil in the top 30?
33 provinces · the latest year each province listed it
Double names with Halil
Double names counted as one name in TÜİK newborn lists (all years and provinces combined).
Source: TurkStat (TÜİK), Address-Based Population Registration System. The lists cover the top 30 names per year, sex and province; no official counts are published for less common names. All statistics →
Why is Halil popular?
Halil means “close friend,” giving it a warm association with companionship and affection. Its two-syllable form is easy to say, although it stayed outside the supplied newborn top thirty.
Origin of the name Halil
Halil comes from Arabic ḫalīl, a word for an intimate friend or close companion.
| Linguistic origin | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Naming tradition | Islamic |
| In Islamic history | Names found in the Quran |
| Is Halil in the Quran? | As a word · خليلا · 4:125The source word khalīl occurs in the Quran in a verse describing Abraham being taken as a close friend. |
| Starts with | H · Ha |
Names are shared across communities. Where a name is common says nothing certain about any one person’s background, faith or origin.
Double names with Halil
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Halil Maşallah
Meaning of each name
- Halil: close friend; intimate companion
- Maşallah: what God has willed
-
Neşet Halil
Meaning of each name
- Neşet: arising, coming into being and growing up
- Halil: close friend; intimate companion
-
Halil Sabahaddin
Meaning of each name
- Halil: close friend; intimate companion
- Sabahaddin: morning of the faith; its dawning light
-
Fettah Halil
Meaning of each name
- Fettah: opener of ways; one who judges
- Halil: close friend; intimate companion
-
Halil İlyas
Meaning of each name
- Halil: close friend; intimate companion
- İlyas: my God is Yahweh
-
Seyit Halil
Meaning of each name
- Seyit: master, leader; respected person
- Halil: close friend; intimate companion
Double names found in TÜİK’s newborn lists: İbrahim Halil, Halil İbrahim, Halil Efe, Halil Asaf, Halil Eymen, Muhammed Halil.
How to pronounce Halil
| Syllables | 2 · 5 letters · 5-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /halil/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | خلیل |
| Arabic | خليل |
Is Halil a boy’s name?
Yes, Halil is used mostly as a boy’s name. See all boy names.
Halil appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Halil
Names with related meanings
- Emre♂Friend
- Enes♂Companionship, friendliness, familiarity
- Can♂Life, soul
- Ferhat♂Hero of the Ferhat and Şirin story
- Caner♂A dearly loved man or brave one
- Davut♂Beloved, dearly loved
- Emrah♂Hero of the Emrah and Selvihan story
- Aziz♂Precious, beloved
- Umutcan♂A soul bringing hope
- Özcan♂Dear soul
- Emircan♂A ruler or prince
- Aliyar♂Friend or companion of Ali
Famous people named Halil
- Halil Altıntop · b. 1982
- Halil Mutlu · b. 1973
- Halil İnalcık · b. 1916
- Halil Dervişoğlu · b. 1999
- Halil Kut · b. 1882
- Halil Umut Meler · b. 1986
- Halil Ergün · b. 1946
- Halil Kaya · b. 1920
- Halil Bey Hasmemmedov · b. 1873
- Halil Akkaş · b. 1983
- Halil Akbunar · b. 1993
- Halil İbrahim Dinçdağ · b. 1976
FAQ about the name Halil
What is the meaning of Halil?
Halil means “close friend; intimate companion”. Halil comes from Arabic ḫalīl, a word for an intimate friend or close companion.
Is Halil a boy’s name?
Yes, Halil is used mostly as a boy’s name.
Is Halil in the Quran?
As a word. The source word khalīl occurs in the Quran in a verse describing Abraham being taken as a close friend. (e.g.: 4:125)
What is the origin of the name Halil?
Halil is of Arabic origin.
How many syllables does Halil have?
Halil has 2 syllables and 5 letters.
How popular is the name Halil?
Halil appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
What names go well with Halil?
Some ideas: Halil Maşallah; Neşet Halil; Halil Sabahaddin.
Famous people named Halil?
Notable people named Halil include Halil Altıntop, Halil Mutlu, Halil İnalcık.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm00022 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake