Total births
407
Boys' name · since 1974
Kalif
Since 1974, U.S. Social Security records show 407 babies named Kalif, peaking in 1994. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #12691
- among boys today
- 407
- born since 1974
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 11%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Kalif is the #12691 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 407 recorded since 1974.
Kalif has 407 recorded births among boys since 1974, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #12691 as of the latest data, more common than 11% of boys, busiest in the 1990s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1974 to 2024.
- #12691 among boys today
- 407 born since 1974
- 1990s peak decade
- 11% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Kalif is currently the #12691 boys' name in America, more common than 11% of boys - 407 born since 1974, peaking in the 1990s.
- #12691
- among boys today
- 407
- born since 1974
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 11%
- more common than other boys
Kalif vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#12691
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 11% of names given to boys today.
1990s
Peak decade
42% of everyone ever named Kalif was born in this single decade.
1994
Single peak year
29 babies were named Kalif in 1994 - its busiest year on record.
How Kalif compares
407 Top 48% higher than 52% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Kalif's all-time total is 11% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Kalif | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 407 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 29 | 23 | 22,252 |
Kalif's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Kalif's full recorded timeline at 1997, 45% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 55% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1980, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1994 peak of 29 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Kalif at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1994
Current rank
#12,691
Active since
1974
Kalif popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1974–2024
- Peak year (1994)
- 29
- Annual births at peak, across 51 years of records
Kalif by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Kalif's strongest decade.
171 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 42% of all-time use.
Kalif births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 34
1970s
34 births
- 1980s 68
1980s
68 births
- 1990s
1990s
171 births
- 2000s
2000s
88 births
- 2010s 34
2010s
34 births
- 2020s 12
2020s
12 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 171 births (42% of all-time use).
Kalif by state
Where Kalif concentrates geographically, total births since 1974
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 28 | 6.9% |
| #2 | Pennsylvania | | 12 | 2.9% |
| #3 | New Jersey | | 5 | 1.2% |
New York share of Kalif's total US births 6.9%
Even split
28 of 407 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Kalif? ▼
Since 1974, Social Security records show 407 babies named Kalif. Today it holds rank #12691 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 1994, with 29 births.
When was Kalif most popular? ▼
Kalif was most popular in the 1990s decade with 171 total births. The single peak year was 1994.
Where is Kalif most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Kalif are New York (28 births), Pennsylvania (12 births), New Jersey (5 births).
How long has the name Kalif been used? ▼
Records for Kalif go back to 1974, giving 51 years of history through 2024.
What names are similar to Kalif? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Kaleb, Kale, Kalvin, Kalen, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Kalif's data
- Kalif's decade-level peak was the 1990s (171 total births); usage has since declined to 12 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- New York records the most Kalifs (28 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Kalif
Nearby Names Like Kalif
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Kalif
Kaleb Boy
#279 86,649 births
Kale Boy
#5270 7,379 births
Kalvin Boy
#1785 6,726 births
Kalen Boy
#2050 4,629 births
Kalel Boy
#1125 4,400 births
Compare Kalif side by side: Kalif vs Kaleb Kalif vs Kale Kalif vs Kalvin
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Kalif
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1974–2024 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Kalif: #12691 Boys' Name - 407 Births, Peak 1994." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/kalif. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Kalif draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.