Clay

Clay - A very unique male name

Clay appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #486. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Clay and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Clay? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Clay. The baby boy name Clay was given to 477 baby boys in 2025, ranking #575 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 3,074 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Clay peaked in popularity 65 years ago in 1961 on position 259.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Clay, 1-5?

Clay is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Clay is currently topping the baby name charts in Iowa at position #146 - and is the least popular in New York at position #1,325.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Clay is where you live.

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Clay origin and meaning

English word / surname

Clay; from the English word for earth, originally a surname for someone who lived on clay soil or worked with clay

Clay began as a surname and a short form of Clayton before standing alone as a boy's name. It peaked in 1961 and is rising again, fitting the taste for short, earthy, one-syllable names.

Attested etymology

Clay is a 4 letter name with 1 syllables.

To see famous people named Clay, pop culture references for the name Clay and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Clay

We've found the following names that sound similar to Clay, sorted by popularity.

Cole / Cecil / Cleo / Cale / Cal / Cael / Cecilio / Cyle / Cheskel / Coley /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Clay

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Clay a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Clay?

1 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

KLAY · /kleɪ/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Famous bearers

• Clay Aiken — American singer who rose to fame on American Idol (b. 1978) Contemporary

Style

ClassicNatureShort formWord name

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Clay for its grounded, unfussy, outdoorsy feel. One syllable, no nickname needed, and increasingly fresh again.

Worth knowing

• Assumed to be short for Clayton