khal

Khal is a transliteration used for a name element of Arabic origin. It may function as a stand-alone given name, a nickname, or, less commonly, a surname. In Arabic script, the closest form khāl (خَال) means paternal uncle, a kinship term that can appear in family names or forms of address. As a given name, Khal is often used by itself or as a shortened form of longer names such as Khalid or Khalil.

Meaning varies with the longer name: Khalid is typically associated with eternity or permanence, while Khalil denotes close friendship or intimacy. Because transliteration from Arabic to Latin letters is not fixed, Khal may be spelled in several ways in English-language texts, and the exact spelling can influence recognition of the underlying name.

Geographic and cultural usage: Khal is common in Arabic-speaking countries and among diaspora communities. In the West, it is frequently adopted as a concise, easily pronounceable given name. It is less commonly found as a surname, and when it appears as such it often reflects broader family naming traditions rather than a distinct surname origin.