The name Savalas is of Greek origin, meaning "black-haired". It is a surname that has been adopted as a given name by some families over time. The name gained notable recognition through the character Kojak, played by Telly Savalas in the television series of the same name, which aired from 1973 to 1975 and again from 1989 to 1990.
"Savalas experienced a peak popularity with 30 births in 1974, but interest seemed to wane steadily over the years, reaching a low of just 5 births in 1999 before briefly recovering to 9 births in 2002. Over this period spanning nearly three decades, there were a total of 102 babies named Savalas."