Boy
Clayton
clay settlement, clay town
About Clayton
Steeped in English heritage, this surname-turned-first-name brings with it centuries of use and an unmistakable sense of place. The "clay" element references earth and substance, grounding the name in tangible, natural imagery, while the "-ton" suffix historically indicated settlement or town. Together, they create a name that suggests stability, permanence, and rootedness—qualities that resonate with parents seeking something solid and enduring.
The two-syllable construction provides balance and ease of pronunciation, though the name maintains formality that some may find appealing while others might consider too serious. Clay emerges as the obvious nickname, offering a more casual alternative for everyday use while preserving the full name's dignity for official purposes.
The name carries subtle Southern and Western associations in American contexts, though it functions perfectly well across all regions. Its classic status means it never truly goes out of style, though it may experience fluctuations in popularity. Educational and professional settings receive it without question, and its traditional nature often appeals to families valuing established naming conventions over contemporary innovations. The strong consonants throughout give it a masculine solidity.
Popularity of the Name Clayton
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #201 | ||||
| 1881 | #212 | ||||
| 1882 | #210 | ||||
| 1883 | #199 | ||||
| 1884 | #193 | ||||
| 1885 | #192 | ||||
| 1886 | #182 | ||||
| 1887 | #173 | ||||
| 1888 | #221 | ||||
| 1889 | #176 | ||||
| 1890 | #176 | ||||
| 1891 | #194 | ||||
| 1892 | #228 | ||||
| 1893 | #187 | ||||
| 1894 | #212 | ||||
| 1895 | #183 | ||||
| 1896 | #161 | ||||
| 1897 | #196 | ||||
| 1898 | #180 | ||||
| 1899 | #214 | ||||
| 1900 | #176 | ||||
| 1901 | #198 | ||||
| 1902 | #175 | ||||
| 1903 | #189 | ||||
| 1904 | #188 | ||||
| 1905 | #174 | ||||
| 1906 | #180 | ||||
| 1907 | #192 | ||||
| 1908 | #170 | ||||
| 1909 | #176 | ||||
| 1910 | #178 | ||||
| 1911 | #165 | ||||
| 1912 | #169 | ||||
| 1913 | #181 | ||||
| 1914 | #158 | ||||
| 1915 | #165 | ||||
| 1916 | #159 | ||||
| 1917 | #166 | ||||
| 1918 | #157 | ||||
| 1919 | #149 | ||||
| 1920 | #153 | ||||
| 1921 | #158 | ||||
| 1922 | #160 | ||||
| 1923 | #158 | ||||
| 1924 | #153 | ||||
| 1925 | #162 | ||||
| 1926 | #161 | ||||
| 1927 | #163 | ||||
| 1928 | #173 | ||||
| 1929 | #166 | ||||
| 1930 | #178 | ||||
| 1931 | #168 | ||||
| 1932 | #175 | ||||
| 1933 | #188 | ||||
| 1934 | #183 | ||||
| 1935 | #187 | ||||
| 1936 | #186 | ||||
| 1937 | #188 | ||||
| 1938 | #199 | ||||
| 1939 | #197 | ||||
| 1940 | #212 | ||||
| 1941 | #205 | ||||
| 1942 | #213 | ||||
| 1943 | #206 | ||||
| 1944 | #212 | ||||
| 1945 | #218 | ||||
| 1946 | #221 | ||||
| 1947 | #225 | ||||
| 1948 | #238 | ||||
| 1949 | #236 | ||||
| 1950 | #241 | ||||
| 1951 | #232 | ||||
| 1952 | #228 | ||||
| 1953 | #230 | ||||
| 1954 | #239 | ||||
| 1955 | #234 | ||||
| 1956 | #234 | ||||
| 1957 | #243 | ||||
| 1958 | #232 | ||||
| 1959 | #238 | ||||
| 1960 | #222 | #194 | |||
| 1961 | #231 | ||||
| 1962 | #250 | #173 | |||
| 1963 | #234 | #163 | |||
| 1964 | #251 | #181 | |||
| 1965 | #251 | #180 | |||
| 1966 | #260 | #219 | |||
| 1967 | #266 | #208 | |||
| 1968 | #264 | #136 | |||
| 1969 | #260 | #139 | |||
| 1970 | #264 | #169 | |||
| 1971 | #239 | #153 | |||
| 1972 | #230 | #152 | |||
| 1973 | #199 | #185 | |||
| 1974 | #203 | #140 | |||
| 1975 | #193 | #114 | |||
| 1976 | #187 | #100 | |||
| 1977 | #197 | #114 | |||
| 1978 | #203 | #135 | #289 | ||
| 1979 | #199 | #143 | |||
| 1980 | #194 | #174 | |||
| 1981 | #185 | #233 | #332 | ||
| 1982 | #161 | #197 | #296 | ||
| 1983 | #158 | #174 | |||
| 1984 | #150 | #166 | |||
| 1985 | #157 | #206 | |||
| 1986 | #161 | #223 | |||
| 1987 | #153 | #172 | |||
| 1988 | #147 | #165 | |||
| 1989 | #154 | #313 | |||
| 1990 | #153 | #335 | #294 | ||
| 1991 | #172 | #180 | #340 | #167 | |
| 1992 | #168 | #233 | #170 | ||
| 1993 | #159 | #238 | #166 | ||
| 1994 | #149 | #232 | #181 | ||
| 1995 | #151 | #178 | #160 | ||
| 1996 | #149 | #294 | #381 | #168 | |
| 1997 | #147 | #383 | #312 | #396 | #182 |
| 1998 | #150 | #402 | #248 | #206 | |
| 1999 | #157 | #412 | #271 | #203 | #203 |
| 2000 | #151 | #411 | #246 | #318 | #202 |
| 2001 | #162 | #458 | #299 | #325 | #210 |
| 2002 | #178 | #420 | #236 | #206 | #252 |
| 2003 | #183 | #471 | #206 | #250 | #268 |
| 2004 | #198 | #396 | #375 | #303 | #273 |
| 2005 | #216 | #470 | #243 | #381 | |
| 2006 | #226 | #463 | #331 | #223 | #384 |
| 2007 | #247 | #439 | #256 | #391 | |
| 2008 | #234 | #416 | #318 | #389 | |
| 2009 | #272 | #428 | #341 | #502 | |
| 2010 | #251 | #469 | #454 | #455 | |
| 2011 | #257 | #412 | #464 | #453 | |
| 2012 | #261 | #405 | #510 | #453 | |
| 2013 | #258 | #467 | #387 | #437 | |
| 2014 | #271 | #424 | #556 | #457 | |
| 2015 | #248 | #507 | #468 | #417 | |
| 2016 | #266 | #430 | #501 | #448 | |
| 2017 | #250 | #417 | #320 | #484 | |
| 2018 | #254 | #421 | #445 | #388 | #404 |
| 2019 | #273 | #414 | #638 | #365 | |
| 2020 | #289 | #412 | #398 | #437 | |
| 2021 | #279 | #671 | #446 | #396 | |
| 2022 | #286 | #467 | #509 | ||
| 2023 | #310 | #756 | #642 | #489 | |
| 2024 | #318 | #612 | #510 | #446 | |
| 2025 | #300 | #732 | #449 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Clayton
- Clay
- Clayborne
- Claiton
- Claiborne
Names Similar to Clayton
Nicknames for Clayton
- Clay
- Ton
- Clayt
- Tony
Famous People Named Clayton
| Clayton Kershaw | American professional baseball player |
| Clayton Moore | American actor, known for portraying the Lone Ranger |
| Clayton Christensen | American business theorist and professor |
| Clayton Anderson | American astronaut |
| Clayton Rohner | American actor |
| Clayton English | American comedian |
| Clayton Blackmore | Welsh former professional footballer |
| Clayton Snyder | American actor, known for his role in "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" |
| Clayton Patterson | American artist and photographer |
| Clayton Williams | American businessman and politician |
| Clayton Holmes Grissom | American singer, known as Clay Aiken |
| Clayton Ravine | Canadian ice hockey player |
| Clayton Stoner | Canadian former professional ice hockey defenseman |
| Clayton Richard | American former professional baseball pitcher |
| Clayton M. Christensen | American author and professor of business administration |
Characters Named Clayton
| Clayton Bigsby | Character from the TV show "Chappelle's Show" |
| Clayton Danvers | Character from the book series "Women of the Otherworld" |
| Clayton Endicott III | Character from the TV show "Benson" |
| Clayton "Clay" Morrow | Character from the TV show "Sons of Anarchy" |