Boy
Clay
clay worker, mortal, earth
About Clay
Earthy, solid, and refreshingly straightforward—Clay embodies simplicity with substance. This name doesn't pretend to be something it's not; it simply exists with quiet confidence and understated strength. There's an artisanal quality here, suggesting creativity and hands-on capability. Clay feels grounded and authentic, perfect for parents who value genuineness over flash. The single syllable packs remarkable presence, proving that brevity and impact aren't mutually exclusive. It's a name that works across all contexts, from casual to professional, never seeming out of place. Clay ages beautifully, maintaining relevance from childhood through every life stage without ever feeling dated or trying too hard.
Popularity of the Name Clay
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #406 | ||||
| 1881 | #333 | ||||
| 1882 | #438 | ||||
| 1883 | #331 | ||||
| 1884 | #307 | ||||
| 1885 | #425 | ||||
| 1886 | #321 | ||||
| 1887 | #341 | ||||
| 1888 | #324 | ||||
| 1889 | #324 | ||||
| 1890 | #303 | ||||
| 1891 | #571 | ||||
| 1892 | #394 | ||||
| 1893 | #300 | ||||
| 1894 | #271 | ||||
| 1895 | #318 | ||||
| 1896 | #353 | ||||
| 1897 | #375 | ||||
| 1898 | #289 | ||||
| 1899 | #385 | ||||
| 1900 | #337 | ||||
| 1901 | #409 | ||||
| 1902 | #339 | ||||
| 1903 | #370 | ||||
| 1904 | #354 | ||||
| 1905 | #355 | ||||
| 1906 | #346 | ||||
| 1907 | #408 | ||||
| 1908 | #414 | ||||
| 1909 | #421 | ||||
| 1910 | #540 | ||||
| 1911 | #396 | ||||
| 1912 | #456 | ||||
| 1913 | #461 | ||||
| 1914 | #466 | ||||
| 1915 | #485 | ||||
| 1916 | #494 | ||||
| 1917 | #515 | ||||
| 1918 | #495 | ||||
| 1919 | #527 | ||||
| 1920 | #498 | ||||
| 1921 | #489 | ||||
| 1922 | #442 | ||||
| 1923 | #525 | ||||
| 1924 | #509 | ||||
| 1925 | #507 | ||||
| 1926 | #528 | ||||
| 1927 | #487 | ||||
| 1928 | #519 | ||||
| 1929 | #579 | ||||
| 1930 | #524 | ||||
| 1931 | #540 | ||||
| 1932 | #524 | ||||
| 1933 | #534 | ||||
| 1934 | #545 | ||||
| 1935 | #548 | ||||
| 1936 | #509 | ||||
| 1937 | #537 | ||||
| 1938 | #546 | ||||
| 1939 | #514 | ||||
| 1940 | #510 | ||||
| 1941 | #576 | ||||
| 1942 | #554 | ||||
| 1943 | #568 | ||||
| 1944 | #585 | ||||
| 1945 | #612 | ||||
| 1946 | #606 | ||||
| 1947 | #561 | ||||
| 1948 | #505 | ||||
| 1949 | #501 | ||||
| 1950 | #496 | ||||
| 1951 | #449 | ||||
| 1952 | #425 | ||||
| 1953 | #430 | ||||
| 1954 | #387 | ||||
| 1955 | #349 | ||||
| 1956 | #339 | ||||
| 1957 | #313 | ||||
| 1958 | #284 | ||||
| 1959 | #276 | ||||
| 1960 | #265 | ||||
| 1961 | #259 | ||||
| 1962 | #288 | ||||
| 1963 | #303 | ||||
| 1964 | #328 | ||||
| 1965 | #369 | ||||
| 1966 | #395 | ||||
| 1967 | #403 | ||||
| 1968 | #394 | ||||
| 1969 | #378 | ||||
| 1970 | #379 | ||||
| 1971 | #352 | ||||
| 1972 | #374 | ||||
| 1973 | #354 | ||||
| 1974 | #373 | ||||
| 1975 | #365 | ||||
| 1976 | #367 | ||||
| 1977 | #382 | ||||
| 1978 | #401 | ||||
| 1979 | #431 | ||||
| 1980 | #443 | ||||
| 1981 | #455 | ||||
| 1982 | #458 | ||||
| 1983 | #424 | ||||
| 1984 | #425 | ||||
| 1985 | #418 | ||||
| 1986 | #423 | ||||
| 1987 | #402 | ||||
| 1988 | #406 | ||||
| 1989 | #444 | ||||
| 1990 | #444 | ||||
| 1991 | #459 | #714 | |||
| 1992 | #484 | ||||
| 1993 | #444 | #733 | |||
| 1994 | #353 | #535 | |||
| 1995 | #344 | #453 | |||
| 1996 | #369 | #526 | |||
| 1997 | #379 | #558 | |||
| 1998 | #393 | #490 | |||
| 1999 | #403 | #568 | |||
| 2000 | #396 | #651 | |||
| 2001 | #427 | #702 | |||
| 2002 | #417 | #616 | |||
| 2003 | #479 | #357 | #602 | ||
| 2004 | #582 | #668 | |||
| 2005 | #654 | #350 | #985 | ||
| 2006 | #707 | ||||
| 2007 | #775 | ||||
| 2008 | #853 | ||||
| 2009 | #948 | ||||
| 2010 | #794 | ||||
| 2011 | #720 | ||||
| 2012 | #726 | #843 | |||
| 2013 | #729 | #943 | |||
| 2014 | #841 | ||||
| 2015 | #720 | #737 | |||
| 2016 | #724 | #690 | |||
| 2017 | #694 | #624 | #970 | ||
| 2018 | #688 | #699 | #732 | ||
| 2019 | #682 | #615 | #637 | #817 | |
| 2020 | #644 | #626 | #625 | #966 | |
| 2021 | #617 | #582 | #544 | #998 | |
| 2022 | #618 | #657 | |||
| 2023 | #581 | #849 | |||
| 2024 | #544 | #617 | #794 | #772 | |
| 2025 | #573 | #832 | #566 | #949 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Clay
- Clayton
- Clayborne
- Claye
Names Similar to Clay
Nicknames for Clay
- Clayboy
- Clayman
- CJ
- C
Famous People Named Clay
| Clay Aiken | American singer |
| Clay Matthews | American football player |
| Clay Buchholz | American baseball player |
| Clay Pell | American lawyer and politician |
| Clay Regazzoni | Swiss Formula One driver |
| Clay Walker | American country music artist |
| Clay Bennett | American businessman and owner of the Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Clay Hart | American musician and entertainer |
| Clay Cook | American musician and member of the Zac Brown Band |
| Clay Adler | American reality TV personality |
| Clay Helton | American football coach |
| Clay Johnson | American entrepreneur and former government official |
| Clay Rapada | American baseball player |
| Clay Felker | American magazine editor |
| Clay Shaw | American businessman and alleged JFK assassination conspirator |
| Clay Travis | American sports journalist |
Characters Named Clay
| Clay Jensen | character from the novel and TV series "13 Reasons Why" |
| Clay Kaczmarek | character from the video game series "Assassin's Creed" |