Kojak
A boy's name with 15 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Kojak sits in the vintage zone of American naming: first recorded in 1974, peaking in 1974, with 15 total births across its history.
The sharp, distinct quality of its ending — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close — keeps the name compact and easy to pair with longer middle names or surnames.
Kojak is not in the current top 1,000 boy names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Kojak is a masculine name most immediately associated with the 1970s American television detective show Kojak, starring Telly Savalas as the bald, lollipop-sucking NYPD detective. The name became a cultural touchstone — Savalas's catchphrase "Who loves ya, baby?" made Kojak one of the most recognizable TV characters of his era.
Using Kojak as a given name is an extraordinarily rare act of pop culture tribute or simply an embrace of the name's bold, confident sound. The show's Greek surname origin adds a layer of character history to what is, in American naming records, a genuine rarity.
EtymologyShow more
Kojak appeared in SSA records in 1974, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. The absence of a clear traditional origin is itself a signal: this may be a name that was created rather than inherited.
With only 15 recorded births, Kojak has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Kojak has 2+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1974.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 15 | #4694 | — |
The Story of Kojak
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1974, Kojak is a Gen X staple. Boys named Kojak are most likely born between 1974 and 1975.
How rare is Kojak?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Kojak is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1974, peaked in the 1970s with 15 births that decade.
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(2 years, 1974–1975)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 5 | #5933 |
| 1974 | 10 | #3455 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kojak a boy's or girl's name?
When was Kojak most popular?
How popular is the name Kojak?
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1974–1975