Boy name
Khalil name meaning
“intimate friend, close companion”
Khalil means “intimate friend” or “close companion.” It is a Latin transliteration of Arabic khalīl and is used for boys in Türkiye. The established Turkish form is Halil, giving the name a direct local counterpart. In the spelling Khalil, kh represents the Arabic consonant written with the letter خ.
What does Khalil mean?
Intimate friend, close companion
In Turkish: çok yakın dost, candan arkadaş
Khalil expresses a close friendship stronger than mere acquaintance. It connects with the Quranic description of Abraham being taken as a friend by God and with the expression Khalilullah. Turkish Halil is the same name; the alternative spelling does not introduce a separate meaning or a different underlying name.
Origin of the name Khalil
Khalil transliterates Arabic khalil, 'close friend'. Halil is the established Turkish form, while kh represents the Arabic letter خ in this spelling.
| Linguistic origin | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Naming tradition | Islamic |
| In Islamic history | Names found in the Quran |
| Is Khalil in the Quran? | As a word · خليلا · 4:125The source word appears in the Quran in the verse describing Abraham being taken as a friend, rather than as a personal name. |
| Starts with | K |
Names are shared across communities. Where a name is common says nothing certain about any one person’s background, faith or origin.
How to pronounce Khalil
| Syllables | 2 · 6 letters · 6-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /khalil/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | خليل |
Is Khalil a boy’s name?
Yes, Khalil is used mostly as a boy’s name. See all boy names.
Khalil does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025).
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Khalil
Names with related meanings
- Emre♂Friend
- Halil♂Close 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
FAQ about the name Khalil
What is the meaning of Khalil?
Khalil means “intimate friend, close companion”. Khalil transliterates Arabic khalil, 'close friend'. Halil is the established Turkish form, while kh represents the Arabic letter خ in this spelling.
Is Khalil a boy’s name?
Yes, Khalil is used mostly as a boy’s name.
Is Khalil in the Quran?
As a word. The source word appears in the Quran in the verse describing Abraham being taken as a friend, rather than as a personal name. (e.g.: 4:125)
What is the origin of the name Khalil?
Khalil is of Arabic origin.
How many syllables does Khalil have?
Khalil has 2 syllables and 6 letters.
How popular is the name Khalil?
Khalil does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025).
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: nm11892 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake