Khalifa
A boy's name with 360 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A member of a predominantly Muslim caste of Gujarat, India.
Khalifa is a boy's baby name of Arabic origin, meaning 'successor', 'steward,' or 'representative' — the title for the leader of the Islamic community after the Prophet Muhammad. It is a name of profound religious and political significance.
Rapper Wiz Khalifa (born Cameron Thomaz) brought this name into mainstream American pop culture, while its deep Islamic meaning ensures it remains grounded in spiritual tradition. For Muslim families, Khalifa names a child as a steward of something greater than himself — a keeper of legacy.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Khalifa belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their open, warm ending — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries. At three syllables, it has a three-beat flow that carries a sense of formality and completeness.
Sound-alike names often cluster in style even when they come from different linguistic roots. The Similar Names section below uses letter and phonetic patterns to surface names in Khalifa’s sonic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Khalifa climbed 8642 spots in the last 20 years — from #12373 to #3731.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 109 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 188 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 36 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 22 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 5 | — |
The Story of Khalifa
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2018, Khalifa is a fresh, modern favorite. Boys named Khalifa are most likely born between 2008 and 2024.
How rare is Khalifa?
Only about 1 in every 120,000 babies born in 2024 was named Khalifa — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1986, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 188 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.
Khalifa by the numbers
- Would fill 8 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(26 years, 1986–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 30 | #3731 |
| 2023 | 26 | #4167 |
| 2022 | 23 | #4510 |
| 2021 | 18 | #5238 |
| 2020 | 12 | #6837 |
| 2019 | 22 | #4565 |
| 2018 | 31 | #3575 |
| 2017 | 24 | #4279 |
| 2016 | 18 | #5234 |
| 2015 | 18 | #5183 |
| 2014 | 17 | #5377 |
| 2013 | 20 | #4723 |
| 2012 | 19 | #4952 |
| 2011 | 10 | #7815 |
| 2010 | 9 | #8483 |
| 2008 | 8 | #9473 |
| 2005 | 5 | #12482 |
| 2004 | 5 | #12373 |
| 2003 | 8 | #8268 |
| 2002 | 5 | #11670 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Khalifa a boy's or girl's name?
When was Khalifa most popular?
How popular is the name Khalifa?
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1986–2024