Telly
Telly is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Derived from Aristotle, meaning 'best purpose' or 'superior end'.
Origin and history
Telly is a masculine given name of Greek origin, often derived as a diminutive of Aristotle or related Greek names like Telesphoros. In the United States, it gained notable public recognition in the 1970s through actor Telly Savalas. Although its usage has declined since its peak decades ago, it remains a distinctive choice.
Popularity in the United States
1,527 babies in the United States have been named Telly since 1880. It ranks #3215 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1906.
States where it is most popular
- GA (13.9 %)
- NC (10.4 %)
- SC (9 %)
- LA (8.9 %)
- IL (8.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 13 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,044 |
| 1980-1990 | 110 |
| 1990-2000 | 145 |
| 2000-2010 | 127 |
| 2010-2019 | 67 |
| 2020-2029 | 21 |
Famous people named Telly
- Telly Savalas: Actor, Singer
- Telly Leung: Actor, Singer
Fun facts
- The name saw its highest popularity in the U.S. during the 1970s, largely spurred by actor Telly Savalas, star of the TV series Kojak.
- Telly originated as an informal Greek short form for names beginning with 'Tel-', most famously Aristotelis (Aristotle).