Fun Facts About the Name Halil
- 94 babies named Halil: U.S. records list 94 babies given the name Halil from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Halil Mean?
Halil is the Turkish form of the Arabic name Khalīl (خليل), which means "friend" or "intimate companion." It comes from the Arabic root kh-l-l, a root connected with close friendship and intimacy. In Islamic tradition the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) is given the title Khalīl Allāh, "the friend of God," which helped spread the name through the Muslim world. The Turkish form arises because Arabic khāʾ (خ) is regularly rendered as h in Turkish, so Khalīl became Halil. The literal sense is "friend"; the customary religious association is with Abraham as God's friend.
Halil Name History & Origins
Halil entered Turkish by way of Arabic, carried with the spread of Islam into Anatolia and the wider Ottoman world. In Arabic it appears as Khalīl, a personal name used widely across the Middle East and North Africa, and it passed into Turkish, Persian, and other regional languages in related forms. The Turkish adaptation drops the throaty kh sound, giving the standard Turkish spelling and pronunciation Halil. It has remained a common Turkish male name.
Halil should not be confused with the similar-sounding Hebrew name Hillel or the Hebrew word for praise, hallel; these come from a different linguistic root and are not the source of the Turkish name. The Turkish Halil traces specifically to Arabic Khalīl.
How Popular is the Name Halil?
Halil has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2017. Its best rank was #7,266 in 2017.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | #12,734 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #12,822 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #7,266 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2016 | #12,889 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #9,920 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #12,731 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #12,802 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #10,083 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #9,998 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #8,362 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2009 | #11,485 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #12,710 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2002 | #11,309 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #8,513 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #10,498 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with H
Short Boy Names That Start with H
How the Name Halil Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You attract success and money. You are a lover of nature and do not need others for your happiness. You are self sufficient. You strive for material success and power and have business sense. You possess strong organizational abilities, can be a good manager, and executive by nature. You are capable of great achievement in business and finance. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Halil's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Halil's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.