Telly

Telly Origin and Meaning

The name Telly is a boy's name.

Telly emerged as a nickname for names like Aristotle or Telemakhos, but gained recognition primarily through Greek-American television personality Telly Savalas, famous for his role as Kojak in the 1970s. The name has a distinctive, friendly quality with its approachable sound and modern feel. Despite its association with television (which sometimes serves as a playful reference), Telly has Greek roots and maintains connections to classical naming traditions. It remains relatively uncommon as a formal given name, though it enjoys occasional use in Greek-American communities and among families seeking short, memorable names with cultural significance. Telly's brevity and recognizability make it distinctive without being difficult to pronounce or spell.

Telly Rank in US Top 1000

# 733 in the US

Famous People Named Telly

• Aristotelis "Telly" Savalas American actor
• Telly Leung American actor and singer
• Telly "Leatherface" Blackwood American pro wrestler and actor
• Telly Hughes American TV sportscaster

The name Telly in Pop Culture

• Telly Radford female character on TV's "Salute Your Shorts"
• Telly the Barber character in the "Welcome to Night Vale" podcasts
• Telly Monster Muppet on TV's "Sesame Street"
• Telly slang for television