Clay
Clay is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Mortal, clay, or earth.
Origin and history
Clay originated as an English occupational or topographic surname for someone who worked with clay or lived near clay soil. It has been used continuously as a given name in the United States since at least the late 19th century. Today, it remains a stable, traditional, earthy short choice for boys.
Popularity in the United States
40,252 babies in the United States have been named Clay since 1880. It ranks #572 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #580.
States where it is most popular
- TX (12.6 %)
- CA (7.5 %)
- OH (5 %)
- KY (4.7 %)
- TN (4.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 245 |
| 1890-1900 | 292 |
| 1900-1910 | 323 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,015 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,453 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,188 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,295 |
| 1950-1960 | 4,336 |
| 1960-1970 | 5,717 |
| 1970-1980 | 4,330 |
| 1980-1990 | 4,015 |
| 1990-2000 | 5,806 |
| 2000-2010 | 4,096 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,266 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,875 |
Famous people named Clay
- Clay Aiken: Singer, Television personality
- Clay Matthews III: Athlete, American football player
- Clay Buchholz: Athlete, Baseball player
Fun facts
- It derived from the Old English word 'clæg', referring to someone living on or working with clay soil.
- Clay often serves as a modern independent alternative to the longer surname name Clayton.