The name comes from the Russian phrase 'o kak', a compact way of saying 'oh, how' or 'well, well' when something turns out differently than expected. In online use, the clip has circulated mainly in Russian-language meme edits and reaction videos, where a brief spoken interjection is more useful than a long explanation. Its popularity comes from that flexibility: the same few syllables can sound curious, sceptical, or amused depending on the clip around it. Creators keep returning to it as a quick verbal reaction.