Baby Names US
Unisex name ★ peaked 1974

Telly

Gender Unisex · 5% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Telly
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1974
312 babies
All-time total
1,609
#3,909 all-time among boys
First recorded
1967
in Social Security records

Telly popularity over time

1,609 babies have been named Telly since 1967, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.050.10.150.218801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – – – –
1890s – – – – – –
1900s – – – – – –
1910s – – – – – –
1920s – – – – – –
1930s – – – – – –
1940s – – – – – –
1950s – – – – – –
1960s 5 13 18 2 – #3,339
1970s 77 1,044 1,121 112 +6128% #469
1980s – 110 110 11 -90% #2,360
1990s – 145 145 15 +32% #3,339
2000s – 127 127 13 -12% #3,524
2010s – 67 67 7 -47% #6,216
2020s (to 2025) – 21 21 4 -48% #7,448

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.

How old are people named Telly?

The median living Telly is about 49 years old; half are between 40 and 50. An estimated 1,500 people named Telly are alive in the United States today.

median 49 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

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

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Telly Savalas Telly Savalas American actor (1922–1994) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Telly, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Telly?

The median living Telly is about 49 years old. Half of all living Tellys are between 40 and 50 years old.

How many people named Telly are alive today?

An estimated 1,500 people named Telly are alive in the United States, based on 1,609 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

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).

Names like Telly

Names that sound and feel close to Telly: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Telly with similar names → More names starting with T →