Telly
Every Telly since 1967 — 1,609 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Telly
Telly is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1967, 1,609 American babies have been named Telly — about 95% boys and 5% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1974, when 312 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1970s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Telly stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Telly year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | — | — | 5 | #14,029 |
| 2023 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | — | — | — | — |
| 2021 | — | — | 5 | #13,862 |
| 2020 | — | — | 11 | #7,448 |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — |
| 2018 | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | — | — | 9 | #8,761 |
| 2016 | — | — | 6 | #12,004 |
| 2015 | — | — | 10 | #7,979 |
| 2014 | — | — | 7 | #10,594 |
| 2013 | — | — | 7 | #10,609 |
| 2012 | — | — | 9 | #8,790 |
| 2011 | — | — | 14 | #6,216 |
| 2010 | — | — | 5 | #14,036 |
| 2009 | — | — | 7 | #10,844 |
| 2008 | — | — | 7 | #10,914 |
| 2007 | — | — | 9 | #8,841 |
| 2006 | — | — | 12 | #6,866 |
| 2005 | — | — | 16 | #5,250 |
| 2004 | — | — | 8 | #8,833 |
| 2003 | — | — | 10 | #7,188 |
| 2002 | — | — | 15 | #5,110 |
| 2001 | — | — | 19 | #4,277 |
| 2000 | — | — | 24 | #3,524 |
| 1995 | — | — | 18 | #3,676 |
| 1990 | — | — | 9 | #5,766 |
| 1985 | — | — | 12 | #3,778 |
| 1980 | — | — | 22 | #2,360 |
| 1975 | 19 | #3,627 | 277 | #483 |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Telly
- Telly Savalas Actor · 1922–1994
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Telly in 2025?
Telly did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Telly?
1,609 babies have been named Telly in the United States since 1967, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Telly most popular?
Telly peaked in 1974, when 312 newborns received the name.
Is Telly a boy or girl name?
Telly is used for both: about 5% of babies named Telly have been girls and 95% boys.
Is the name Telly rising or falling?
Telly is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Telly?
Well-known people named Telly include Telly Savalas (actor).