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Clay

Boy

Meaning of Clay: English: 'clay worker'

Clay is a boy's name most strongly associated with English naming. It has 4 letters and 1 syllable, and it is familiar but far from overused — 581st most popular boys' name in the United States in 2025 and 602nd in England & Wales.

US rank 2025

#581

515 babies in 2025

England & Wales 2024

#602

63 babies in 2024

US babies since 1880

40,525

First recorded 1880 · peak 1960

Trend

rising

Style: uncommon

Popularity over time

1981: 333 babies1982: 345 babies1983: 373 babies1984: 380 babies1985: 416 babies1986: 412 babies1987: 467 babies1988: 488 babies1989: 451 babies1990: 494 babies19901991: 465 babies1992: 433 babies1993: 494 babies1994: 689 babies1995: 714 babies1996: 648 babies1997: 643 babies1998: 630 babies1999: 603 babies2000: 641 babies20002001: 573 babies2002: 597 babies2003: 519 babies2004: 388 babies2005: 330 babies2006: 309 babies2007: 281 babies2008: 250 babies2009: 213 babies2010: 273 babies20102011: 316 babies2012: 322 babies2013: 321 babies2014: 269 babies2015: 342 babies2016: 339 babies2017: 355 babies2018: 353 babies2019: 376 babies2020: 422 babies20202021: 451 babies2022: 453 babies2023: 494 babies2024: 550 babies2025: 515 babies
US babies named Clay per year (Social Security Administration). Peak bar = 714.

Gender split

99% boys · 1% girls, based on US, UK and international usage.

Origins & cultures

More English boys' names

Other names starting with C