Boy · #5,464 in 2026

Kojak

Kojak is an American action crime drama television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theophilus "Theo" Kojak. Taking the time slot of the popular Cannon series, it aired on CBS from 1973 to 1978. The series was reprised as 7 TV movies in the 1980s and as a TV series in 2005 starring Ving Rhames.

Current Rank
#5,464
Peak Rank
#3,320 (1974)
Total Babies
15
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1974
First Year
1975
Last Year
1974
Peak Year
#3320
Peak Rank
15
Total Count
2
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Kojak

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Kojak is an American action crime drama television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theophilus "Theo" Kojak. Taking the time slot of the popular Cannon series, it aired on CBS from 1973 to 1978. The series was reprised as 7 TV movies in the 1980s and as a TV series in 2005 starring Ving Rhames.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Kojak

Kojak first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1974, with 10 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1974, when 10 Kojaks were born — ranking #3,320 that year. As of 2026, Kojak ranks #5,464 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 15 Kojaks have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Kojak

Phonetically similar names — useful when Kojak is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kojak

What does the name Kojak mean?
Kojak is an American action crime drama television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theophilus "Theo" Kojak. Taking the time slot of the popular Cannon series, it aired on CBS from 1973 to 1978. The series was reprised as 7 TV movies in the 1980s and as a TV series in 2005 starring Ving Rhames.
How popular is Kojak in 2026?
In 2026, Kojak ranks #5,464 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Kojak most popular?
Kojak reached its peak popularity in 1974, ranking #3,320 that year with 10 babies given the name.
Is Kojak a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Kojak is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Kojak?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Kojak include Kerman, Ade, Dusan. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Kerman
Peak #3320
👦
Ade
Peak #3320
👦
Dusan
Peak #3320
👦
Duwane
Peak #3320
👦
Cammie
Peak #3320
👦
Gawain
Peak #3320
👦
Andrie
Peak #3320
👦
Eleasar
Peak #3320

About the name Kojak

Kojak is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1974 and has accumulated 15 births in the dataset. Kojak's peak popularity came in 1974 when it ranked #3,320. Use the chart and map above to compare Kojak's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.