How popular is the baby name Kojak in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Kojak.

The graph will take a few moments to load. (Don't worry, it shouldn't take 9 months!) If it's taking too long, try reloading the page.


Popularity of the baby name Kojak


Posts that mention the name Kojak

Where did the baby name Stryker come from in 1990?

Title of the TV series "B. L. Stryker" (1989-1990)
B. L. Stryker

The name Stryker debuted in the U.S. baby name data in 1990:

  • 1992: unlisted
  • 1991: 6 baby boys named Stryker
  • 1990: 7 baby boys named Stryker [debut]
  • 1989: unlisted
  • 1988: unlisted

Why?

Because of the the short-lived TV series B. L. Stryker, which aired from early 1989 until May of 1990.

The detective drama starred actor Burt Reynolds as Buddy Lee “B. L.” Stryker, a former New Orleans policeman who moves to Palm Beach, Florida, “where he runs a disreputable private detective business and lives on a houseboat with two parrots.” (The birds are named Gilbert and Roland.)

The series consisted of 12 two-hour episodes that aired as ABC Mystery Movies every few weeks, alternating with episodes of similar shows, including Columbo and Kojak.

The name dropped out of the data in 1992, but re-emerged a few years later, thanks to the Mortal Kombat 3 character Kurtis Stryker.

What are your thoughts on the name Stryker? Would you use it?

Sources:

How did “Kojak” influence baby names in the 1970s?

The character Theo Kojak (played by Telly Savalas) from the TV series "Kojak" (1973-1978).
Theo Kojak from “Kojak

“Who loves ya, baby?”

The TV crime drama Kojak was on the air for five seasons (1973 to 1978). It starred actor Aristotelis “Telly” Savalas as lollipop-sucking, tough-talking, big-hearted New York City police detective Theo Kojak.

The series became very popular and, as a result, all of the names in that last sentence — Aristotelis, Telly, Savalas, Theo, and Kojak — either debuted or saw increased usage (as boy names) in the U.S. baby name data in the mid-1970s:

 1973197419751976
Aristotelis...5*
Telly41293†277207
Savalas.30*†2613
Theo27325758
Kojak.9*†6.
*Debut, †Peak usage

The name Savalas is currently tied for 48th-highest boy name debut of all time. The name Telly reached the top 1,000 for the first time in 1974, and variant name Telley debuted the same year. Even Aristotle was affected.

But that’s not all.

A specific Kojak episode called “Elegy in an Asphalt Graveyard,” which aired in February of 1975, focused on the murder of a character named Azure Dee (played by Denyce Liston) — a Manhattan call-girl who Kojak happened to know. Notably, the episode began and ended with a melancholy song called “Azure Dee,” [vid] sung by Telly Savalas himself.

The same year, we see two new girl names in the data:

1973197419751976
Azuredee..10*†7
Azure..121*†60
*Debut, †Peak usage

The name Azure is currently the 22nd-highest girl name debut of all time. The similar name Azuree debuted the same year, but Azuree was probably influenced as much by the the Estée Lauder perfume as by the Kojak character.

Sources: Kojak – Wikipedia, Telly Savalas, Actor, Dies at 70; Played ‘Kojak’ in 70’s TV Series, Telly Savalas – IMDb, “Elegy in an Asphalt Graveyard,” Kojak (TV Episode 1975) – IMDb

Top girl-name debuts of all time in the U.S. baby name data (21-30)

lotus bud

And now for the third installment of the top baby name debuts for girls.

From 30 to 21:

Greydis & Sharday, 2-way tie for #30

  • Greydis debuted with 100 baby girls in 2009.
    Inspired by Greidys Gil, winner of the TV beauty pageant Nuestra Belleza Latina 2009.
  • Sharday debuted with 100 baby girls in 1985.
    Inspired by singer Sade [shah-DAY].

Torey, #29

Tennille, #28

Izamar, #27

  • Izamar debuted with 107 baby girls in 1990.
    Inspired by Isamar Medina, a character on the telenovela La Revancha.

Kelis, #26

  • Kelis debuted with 108 baby girls in 2000.
    Inspired by singer Kelis.

Cotina, #25

Jaleesa, #24

  • Jaleesa debuted with 116 baby girls in 1987.
    Inspired by Jaleesa Vinson, a character on the TV sitcom A Different World.

Turkessa, #23

  • Turkessa debuted with 119 baby girls in 1975.
    Inspired by Turkessa (b. 1975), baby of Supremes singer Mary Wilson.

Azure, #22

  • Azure debuted with 121 baby girls in 1975.
    Inspired by Azure Dee, a character on the TV detective series Kojak. (Or by the song “Azure Dee,” inspired by the character and sung by Telly Savalas for that particular episode.)

Sharde, #21

  • Sharde debuted with 124 baby girls in 1985.
    Inspired by singer Sade [shah-DAY].

The final two groups of ten are coming up tomorrow and Friday. Stay tuned!

More of the top 50 baby name debuts for girls: 50-41, 40-31, 30-21, 20-11, 10-1

Image: Adapted from LotusBud0048a (public domain) by Frank “Fg2” Gualtieri

[Latest update: 7/2021]

Perfume names as baby names

We all know that brand names are being used more and more often as baby names, and that brands associated with luxury or high status (e.g., Bentley, Tiffany) are particularly enticing to expectant parents.

So it’s not too surprising that there are a lot of people out there named after designer fragrances — women’s perfumes in particular, but men’s colognes and unisex fragrances as well. Here are three dozen examples:

Ajee
1994: Ajee perfume introduced by Revlon.
1994: The baby name Ajee debuted in the U.S. baby name data. It was the top debut name for girls that year.

Allure
1996: Allure perfume introduced by Chanel.
1997: The baby name Allure debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Andron
1981: Andron perfume introduced by Jovan.
1981: The baby name Andron debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Antaeus
1981: Antaeus cologne introduced by Chanel.
1981: The baby name Antaeus debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Aviance
1975: Aviance perfume introduced by Prince Matchabelli.
1975: The baby name Aviance debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Azuree
1969: Azurée perfume introduced by Estée Lauder.
1975: The baby name Azuree debuted in the U.S. baby name data. (Though this debut may have more to do with Kojak than with the perfume.)

Cachet
1970: Cachet perfume introduced by Prince Matchabelli.
1972: The baby name Cachet debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Celisse
1982: Celisse perfume introduced by Dana.
1982: The baby name Celisse debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Cerissa
1974: Cerissa perfume introduced by Charles Revson.
1975: The baby name Cerissa debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Chimere
1979: Chimère perfume introduced by Prince Matchabelli.
1979: The baby name Chimere debuted in the U.S. baby name data. It cracked the top 1,000 for girls in 1980 and 1981.

Cristalle
1977: Cristalle perfume introduced by Chanel.
1977: The baby name Cristalle debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Drakkar
1972: Drakkar cologne introduced by Guy Laroche.
1982: Drakkar Noir cologne introduced by Guy Laroche.
1987: The baby name Drakkar debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Enjoli (pronounced ahn-zho-lee)
1978: Enjoli perfume introduced by Revlon.
1978: The baby name Enjoli debuted in the U.S. baby name data. It was the top debut name for girls that year.

Envy
1997: Envy perfume introduced by Gucci.
1999: The baby name Envy debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Eternity
1988: Eternity perfume introduced by Calvin Klein.
1990: The baby name Eternity debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Euphoria
2005: Euphoria perfume introduced by Calvin Klein.
2007: The baby name Euphoria debuted in the U.S. baby name data. So far, it’s a one-hit wonder.

Florecita
2007: Florecita perfume introduced by Revelations.
2007: The baby name Florecita debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Jadore
1999: J’adore perfume introduced by Christian Dior.
2000: The baby name Jadore debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Jontue
1975: Jontue perfume introduced by Revlon.
1977: The baby name Jontue debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Lahana
1992: Lahana perfume introduced by Avon.
1992: The baby name Lahana debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Lutece
1984: Lutèce perfume introduced by Houbigant.
1986: The baby name Lutece debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Millennia
1996: Millennia perfume introduced by Avon.
1997: The baby name Millennia debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Nahema
1979: Nahéma perfume introduced by Guerlain.
1981: The baby name Nahema debuted in the U.S. baby name data. So far, it’s a one-hit wonder.

Odyssey
1981: Odyssey perfume introduced by Avon.
1982: The baby name Odyssey debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Pavi Elle
1983: Pavi Elle perfume introduced by Avon.
1983: The baby name Pavielle debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Raffinee
1982: Raffinée perfume introduced by Houbigant.
1982: The baby name Raffinee debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Rebelle
2012: Rebelle perfume introduced by Rihanna.
2013: The baby name Rebelle debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Safari
1990: Safari perfume introduced by Ralph Lauren.
1992: The baby name Safari debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Samsara
1989: Samsara perfume introduced by Guerlain.
1991: The baby name Samsara debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Senchal
1981: Senchal perfume introduced by Charles of the Ritz.
1982: The baby name Senchal debuted in the U.S. baby name data. So far, it’s a one-hit wonder.

Sensi
2003: Sensi perfume introduced by Giorgio Armani.
2006: The baby name Sensi debuted in the U.S. baby name data. So far, it’s a one-hit wonder.

Toccara
1981: Toccara perfume introduced by Avon.
1981: The baby name Toccara debuted in the U.S. baby name data. Toccara cracked the top 1,000 for girls in 1981, 1982 and 1983.

Tresor
1990: Trésor perfume introduced by Lancôme.
1997: The baby name Tresor debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

Ysatis
1984: Ysatis perfume introduced by Givenchy.
1988: The baby name Ysatis debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

**Late addition (thanks Julie!):

Charisma
1968: Charisma perfume introduced by Avon.
1968: The baby name Charisma debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

**Another late addition (thanks Blue Juniper!):

Natori
1995: Natori perfume introduced by Avon.
1995: The baby name Natori debuted in the U.S. baby name data.

…And I’m sure that’s not all. Other fragrance names are harder to figure out, though. For instance, the names below were surely given a boost by fragrance, but they also appeared in the SSA data before their corresponding fragrances were introduced:

  • Elan (by Coty, ’68)
  • Jovan (Jovan Musk in ’72)
  • Ciara (by Revlon, ’73) – singer Ciara was named for this one
  • Devin (by Aramis, ’77)
  • Ariane (by Avon, ’77)
  • Tasha (by Avon, ’79)
  • Stetson (by Coty, ’81)
  • Imari (by Avon, ’85)

And names like Armani and Fendi could have been inspired by fragrance, or they could have been inspired by anything else associated with those particular fashion houses.

Can you think of any other perfumes that might have been used as baby names? Let me know and I’ll look them up!

Source: SSA

[Latest update: October 2020]