Telly
Boy · TEL-ee · Greek
Telly is a boys' name of Greek origin, meaning “best purpose”. Too few babies were given it in the latest year to rank.
What does Telly mean?
Greek: pet form of Aristotelis (Aristotle)
“best purpose”
Actor Telly Savalas, TV's Kojak, was born Aristotelis Savalas.
- Say it
- TEL-ee
Is Telly a girl's or a boy's name?
Telly is a boys' name.
How popular is Telly in the US?
No boys in the US were given it in 2025, or too few to be listed. Its busiest year was 1974, with 294 boys. It first appears in the records in 1967.
Half of all the boys named Telly in the US since 1880 were born between 1975 and 1985, the years shaded on the chart below.
Telly in the US, year by year
| Year | Boys | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | #12,341 |
| 2023 | 0 | – |
| 2022 | 0 | – |
| 2021 | 5 | #12,141 |
| 2020 | 11 | #7,029 |
| 2019 | 0 | – |
| 2018 | 0 | – |
| 2017 | 9 | #8,136 |
| 2016 | 6 | #10,739 |
| 2015 | 10 | #7,486 |
| 2014 | 7 | #9,636 |
| 2013 | 7 | #9,650 |
| 2012 | 9 | #8,152 |
| 2011 | 14 | #5,939 |
| 2010 | 5 | #12,224 |
| 2009 | 7 | #9,859 |
| 2008 | 7 | #9,864 |
| 2007 | 9 | #8,169 |
| 2006 | 12 | #6,455 |
| 2005 | 16 | #5,029 |
| 2004 | 8 | #8,137 |
| 2003 | 10 | #6,708 |
| 2002 | 15 | #4,913 |
| 2001 | 19 | #4,115 |
| 2000 | 24 | #3,417 |
| 1999 | 13 | #5,029 |
| 1998 | 22 | #3,386 |
| 1997 | 22 | #3,256 |
| 1996 | 13 | #4,606 |
| 1995 | 18 | #3,553 |
| 1994 | 17 | #3,745 |
| 1993 | 18 | #3,495 |
| 1992 | 8 | #6,120 |
| 1991 | 5 | #8,228 |
| 1990 | 9 | #5,375 |
| 1989 | 6 | #6,934 |
| 1988 | 0 | – |
| 1987 | 0 | – |
| 1986 | 9 | #4,453 |
| 1985 | 12 | #3,596 |
| 1984 | 10 | #3,922 |
| 1983 | 15 | #2,911 |
| 1982 | 18 | #2,595 |
| 1981 | 18 | #2,568 |
| 1980 | 22 | #2,284 |
| 1979 | 24 | #2,104 |
| 1978 | 59 | #1,149 |
| 1977 | 136 | #732 |
| 1976 | 207 | #562 |
| 1975 | 277 | #480 |
| 1974 | 294 | #468 |
| 1973 | 40 | #1,312 |
| 1972 | 7 | #3,960 |
| 1971 | 0 | – |
| 1970 | 0 | – |
| 1969 | 0 | – |
| 1968 | 8 | #3,106 |
| 1967 | 5 | #3,964 |
Names like Telly
Names given in the same years and the same naming tradition, with a similar sound.
Cody Andy Jason Timothy Quincy Jeremy Colby Christian Andrew Tyler Brady Kody
Names related to Telly
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