Clay Overview
Mortal, clay worker, the earth
Boy
English
Derived from the Old English word โclวฃg,โ meaning โclay,โ originally referring to a person who lived near or worked with clay.
Christianity
/kleษช/
Clay is popular in the United States and the United Kingdom. In 2023, it ranked #580 for boys in the USA.
1 syllable
4 letters
5 (Visionary, Expansive, Adventurous)
Short, Nature-inspired, Cool
Strong, earthy, natural, down-to-earth
December 4 (Sweden), September 23rd
Clay Variations in Different Cultures
Clayton, Clair, Claus, Clayson, Cleon, Clive, Clancy, Claudius, Clarke, Clarence
Clay, Claye, C, CJ, Clayo, Clayman, Claybear, Clayster, Clayboy, Claysen
Clay, Claye, Clayey, Clayo, Clayster
What Is the Meaning of Clay?
Clay means โmortal,โ โthe earth,โ or โclay worker,โ symbolizing a connection to the earth and nature. People named Clay are often grounded and dependable, with a practical and resilient personality.
What Is the Origin of The Name Clay?
Clay has English origins, derived from the surname โClaye,โ which was a term for a person who worked with clay or lived near clay pits.
Clay Name Popularity
Popularity Chart of the Name Clay in the U.S. over the Years
 United States | #6182022 | #5802023 | |
| Top 3 Rankings | #2591961 | #2641960 | #2711894 |
Annual Statistics Breakdown for Clay
| Year | Name Ranking | Number of Births | Birth Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 580 (+38 from 2022) | 491 (+41 from 2022) | 0.02681 |
| 2022 | 618 (-2 from 2021) | 450 (-1 from 2021) | 0.02403 |
| 2021 | 616 (+27 from 2020) | 451 (+34 from 2020) | 0.02407 |
| 2020 | 643 (+38 from 2019) | 417 (+41 from 2019) | 0.02254 |
| 2019 | 681 (+7 from 2018) | 376 (+23 from 2018) | 0.01957 |
| 2018 | 688 (+6 from 2017) | 353 (-2 from 2017) | 0.01816 |
| 2017 | 694 (+31 from 2016) | 355 (+17 from 2016) | 0.01794 |
| 2016 | 725 (-5 from 2015) | 338 (-4 from 2015) | 0.01669 |
| 2015 | 720 (+120 from 2014) | 342 (+73 from 2014) | 0.01673 |
| 2014 | 840 (-112 from 2013) | 269 (-52 from 2013) | 0.01313 |
| 2013 | 728 (-2 from 2012) | 321 (-1 from 2012) | 0.01589 |
| 2012 | 726 (-8 from 2011) | 322 (+6 from 2011) | 0.01587 |
| 2011 | 718 (+79 from 2010) | 316 (+44 from 2010) | 0.01556 |
| 2010 | 797 (+151 from 2009) | 272 (+59 from 2009) | 0.01324 |
| 2009 | 948 (-95 from 2008) | 213 (-37 from 2008) | 0.01004 |
| 2008 | 853 (-78 from 2007) | 250 (-31 from 2007) | 0.01147 |
| 2007 | 775 (-68 from 2006) | 281 (-28 from 2006) | 0.01269 |
| 2006 | 707 (-53 from 2005) | 309 (-21 from 2005) | 0.01409 |
| 2005 | 654 (-72 from 2004) | 330 (-53 from 2004) | 0.01551 |
| 2004 | 582 (-104 from 2003) | 383 (-136 from 2003) | 0.01812 |
| 2003 | 478 (-61 from 2002) | 519 (-78 from 2002) | 0.02470 |
| 2002 | 417 (+10 from 2001) | 597 (+24 from 2001) | 0.02889 |
| 2001 | 427 (-31 from 2000) | 573 (-68 from 2000) | 0.02770 |
| 2000 | 396 (+7 from 1999) | 641 (+38 from 1999) | 0.03069 |
| 1999 | 403 (-10 from 1998) | 603 (-20 from 1998) | 0.02957 |
| 1998 | 393 (-14 from 1997) | 623 (-19 from 1997) | 0.03073 |
| 1997 | 379 (-9 from 1996) | 642 (-6 from 1996) | 0.03214 |
| 1996 | 370 (-27 from 1995) | 648 (-66 from 1995) | 0.03234 |
| 1995 | 343 (+10 from 1994) | 714 (+25 from 1994) | 0.03550 |
| 1994 | 353 (+90 from 1993) | 689 (+195 from 1993) | 0.03380 |
| 1993 | 443 (+41 from 1992) | 494 (+61 from 1992) | 0.02392 |
| 1992 | 484 (-25 from 1991) | 433 (-32 from 1991) | 0.02063 |
| 1991 | 459 (-14 from 1990) | 465 (-29 from 1990) | 0.02194 |
| 1990 | 445 (-1 from 1989) | 494 (+43 from 1989) | 0.02296 |
| 1989 | 444 (-38 from 1988) | 451 (-37 from 1988) | 0.02152 |
| 1988 | 406 (-4 from 1987) | 488 (+22 from 1987) | 0.02437 |
| 1987 | 402 (+21 from 1986) | 466 (+54 from 1986) | 0.02389 |
| 1986 | 423 (-5 from 1985) | 412 (-4 from 1985) | 0.02144 |
| 1985 | 418 (+5 from 1984) | 416 (+34 from 1984) | 0.02162 |
| 1984 | 423 (+1 from 1983) | 382 (+9 from 1983) | 0.02035 |
| 1983 | 424 (+34 from 1982) | 373 (+28 from 1982) | 0.02002 |
| 1982 | 458 (-3 from 1981) | 345 (+12 from 1981) | 0.01828 |
| 1981 | 455 (-12 from 1980) | 333 (-17 from 1980) | 0.01788 |
| 1980 | 443 (-12 from 1979) | 350 (+5 from 1979) | 0.01887 |
| 1979 | 431 (-30 from 1978) | 345 (-24 from 1978) | 0.01926 |
| 1978 | 401 (-19 from 1977) | 369 (-52 from 1977) | 0.02160 |
| 1977 | 382 (-16 from 1976) | 421 (-14 from 1976) | 0.02463 |
| 1976 | 366 (-1 from 1975) | 435 (-19 from 1975) | 0.02664 |
| 1975 | 365 (+8 from 1974) | 454 (+32 from 1974) | 0.02798 |
| 1974 | 373 (-20 from 1973) | 422 (-50 from 1973) | 0.02589 |
| 1973 | 353 (+21 from 1972) | 472 (+33 from 1972) | 0.02925 |
| 1972 | 374 (-22 from 1971) | 439 (-81 from 1971) | 0.02622 |
| 1971 | 352 (+27 from 1970) | 520 (+64 from 1970) | 0.02860 |
| 1970 | 379 (-2 from 1969) | 456 (+24 from 1969) | 0.02394 |
| 1969 | 377 (+17 from 1968) | 432 (+43 from 1968) | 0.02362 |
| 1968 | 394 (+9 from 1967) | 389 (+28 from 1967) | 0.02191 |
| 1967 | 403 (-8 from 1966) | 361 No change from 1966 | 0.02029 |
| 1966 | 395 (-26 from 1965) | 361 (-78 from 1965) | 0.01986 |
| 1965 | 369 (-41 from 1964) | 439 (-132 from 1964) | 0.02317 |
| 1964 | 328 (-25 from 1963) | 571 (-85 from 1963) | 0.02817 |
| 1963 | 303 (-15 from 1962) | 656 (-49 from 1962) | 0.03177 |
| 1962 | 288 (-29 from 1961) | 705 (-195 from 1961) | 0.03354 |
| 1961 | 259 (+5 from 1960) | 900 (-4 from 1960) | 0.04172 |
| 1960 | 264 (+11 from 1959) | 904 (+78 from 1959) | 0.04175 |
| 1959 | 275 (+9 from 1958) | 826 (+103 from 1958) | 0.03813 |
| 1958 | 284 (+29 from 1957) | 723 (+129 from 1957) | 0.03355 |
| 1957 | 313 (+26 from 1956) | 594 (+109 from 1956) | 0.02714 |
| 1956 | 339 (+11 from 1955) | 485 (+59 from 1955) | 0.02260 |
| 1955 | 350 (+38 from 1954) | 426 (+86 from 1954) | 0.02038 |
| 1954 | 388 (+43 from 1953) | 340 (+70 from 1953) | 0.01643 |
| 1953 | 431 (-4 from 1952) | 270 (+3 from 1952) | 0.01349 |
| 1952 | 427 (+23 from 1951) | 267 (+42 from 1951) | 0.01353 |
| 1951 | 450 (+47 from 1950) | 225 (+45 from 1950) | 0.01177 |
| 1950 | 497 (+5 from 1949) | 180 (+4 from 1949) | 0.00990 |
| 1949 | 502 (+3 from 1948) | 176 (+5 from 1948) | 0.00977 |
| 1948 | 505 (+56 from 1947) | 171 (+26 from 1947) | 0.00959 |
| 1947 | 561 (+42 from 1946) | 145 (+31 from 1946) | 0.00781 |
| 1946 | 603 (+9 from 1945) | 114 (+17 from 1945) | 0.00691 |
| 1945 | 612 (-27 from 1944) | 97 (-13 from 1944) | 0.00707 |
| 1944 | 585 (-17 from 1943) | 110 (-15 from 1943) | 0.00792 |
| 1943 | 568 (-15 from 1942) | 125 (+2 from 1942) | 0.00859 |
| 1942 | 553 (+23 from 1941) | 123 (+17 from 1941) | 0.00873 |
| 1941 | 576 (-66 from 1940) | 106 (-22 from 1940) | 0.00845 |
| 1940 | 510 (+3 from 1939) | 128 (+6 from 1939) | 0.01079 |
| 1939 | 513 (+33 from 1938) | 122 (+9 from 1938) | 0.01076 |
| 1938 | 546 (-11 from 1937) | 113 (-4 from 1937) | 0.00994 |
| 1937 | 535 (-26 from 1936) | 117 (-7 from 1936) | 0.01070 |
| 1936 | 509 (+39 from 1935) | 124 (+14 from 1935) | 0.01165 |
| 1935 | 548 (-3 from 1934) | 110 (-7 from 1934) | 0.01028 |
| 1934 | 545 (-13 from 1933) | 117 (+3 from 1933) | 0.01102 |
| 1933 | 532 (-8 from 1932) | 114 (-9 from 1932) | 0.01117 |
| 1932 | 524 (+15 from 1931) | 123 (+6 from 1931) | 0.01145 |
| 1931 | 539 (-16 from 1930) | 117 (-14 from 1930) | 0.01094 |
| 1930 | 523 (+55 from 1929) | 131 (+24 from 1929) | 0.01160 |
| 1929 | 578 (-60 from 1928) | 107 (-28 from 1928) | 0.00966 |
| 1928 | 518 (-33 from 1927) | 135 (-20 from 1927) | 0.01183 |
| 1927 | 485 (+43 from 1926) | 155 (+24 from 1926) | 0.01334 |
| 1926 | 528 (-22 from 1925) | 131 (-13 from 1925) | 0.01144 |
| 1925 | 506 (+2 from 1924) | 144 (-7 from 1924) | 0.01251 |
| 1924 | 508 (+16 from 1923) | 151 (+17 from 1923) | 0.01292 |
| 1923 | 524 (-82 from 1922) | 134 (-55 from 1922) | 0.01183 |
| 1922 | 442 (+47 from 1921) | 189 (+29 from 1921) | 0.01680 |
| 1921 | 489 (+9 from 1920) | 160 (+13 from 1920) | 0.01406 |
| 1920 | 498 (+28 from 1919) | 147 (+19 from 1919) | 0.01335 |
| 1919 | 526 (-31 from 1918) | 128 (-18 from 1918) | 0.01261 |
| 1918 | 495 (+19 from 1917) | 146 (+21 from 1917) | 0.01392 |
| 1917 | 514 (-20 from 1916) | 125 (-8 from 1916) | 0.01303 |
| 1916 | 494 (-9 from 1915) | 133 (+1 from 1915) | 0.01441 |
| 1915 | 485 (-19 from 1914) | 132 (+25 from 1914) | 0.01498 |
| 1914 | 466 (-6 from 1913) | 107 (+18 from 1913) | 0.01566 |
| 1913 | 460 (-4 from 1912) | 89 (+14 from 1912) | 0.01660 |
| 1912 | 456 (-61 from 1911) | 75 (+23 from 1911) | 0.01661 |
| 1911 | 395 (+142 from 1910) | 52 (+24 from 1910) | 0.02154 |
| 1910 | 537 (-118 from 1909) | 28 (-7 from 1909) | 0.01343 |
| 1909 | 419 (-6 from 1908) | 35 (+2 from 1908) | 0.01979 |
| 1908 | 413 (-8 from 1907) | 33 (+2 from 1907) | 0.01984 |
| 1907 | 405 (-59 from 1906) | 31 (-5 from 1906) | 0.01955 |
| 1906 | 346 (+9 from 1905) | 36 (+2 from 1905) | 0.02499 |
| 1905 | 355 (-1 from 1904) | 34 (+2 from 1904) | 0.02374 |
| 1904 | 354 (+16 from 1903) | 32 (+5 from 1903) | 0.02310 |
| 1903 | 370 (-33 from 1902) | 27 (-6 from 1902) | 0.02088 |
| 1902 | 337 (+70 from 1901) | 33 (+12 from 1901) | 0.02486 |
| 1901 | 407 (-70 from 1900) | 21 (-20 from 1900) | 0.01817 |
| 1900 | 337 (+47 from 1899) | 41 (+18 from 1899) | 0.02529 |
| 1899 | 384 (-96 from 1898) | 23 (-17 from 1898) | 0.01997 |
| 1898 | 288 (+87 from 1897) | 40 (+15 from 1897) | 0.03028 |
| 1897 | 375 (-23 from 1896) | 25 (-5 from 1896) | 0.02050 |
| 1896 | 352 (-36 from 1895) | 30 (-3 from 1895) | 0.02324 |
| 1895 | 316 (-45 from 1894) | 33 (-9 from 1894) | 0.02606 |
| 1894 | 271 (+29 from 1893) | 42 (+9 from 1893) | 0.03363 |
| 1893 | 300 (+94 from 1892) | 33 (+10 from 1892) | 0.02726 |
| 1892 | 394 (+170 from 1891) | 23 (+12 from 1891) | 0.01750 |
| 1891 | 564 (-262 from 1890) | 11 (-21 from 1890) | 0.01007 |
| 1890 | 302 (+20 from 1889) | 32 (+3 from 1889) | 0.02673 |
| 1889 | 322 (+2 from 1888) | 29 (-2 from 1888) | 0.02436 |
| 1888 | 324 (+16 from 1887) | 31 (+8 from 1887) | 0.02386 |
| 1887 | 340 (-19 from 1886) | 23 (-5 from 1886) | 0.02104 |
| 1886 | 321 (+101 from 1885) | 28 (+10 from 1885) | 0.02352 |
| 1885 | 422 (-116 from 1884) | 18 (-14 from 1884) | 0.01552 |
| 1884 | 306 (+25 from 1883) | 32 (+7 from 1883) | 0.02607 |
| 1883 | 331 (+106 from 1882) | 25 (+8 from 1882) | 0.02223 |
| 1882 | 437 (-105 from 1881) | 17 (-7 from 1881) | 0.01393 |
| 1881 | 332 (+71 from 1880) | 24 (+6 from 1880) | 0.02217 |
| 1880 | 403 First SSA data recorded | 18 First SSA data recorded | 0.01520 |
American States Popularity Rankings for Clay
(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )Texas (TX)
 Texas (TX) | #6722021 | #7982022 | #6712023 |
California (CA)
 California (CA) | #7512021 | #7942022 | #7742023 |
Ohio (OH)
 Ohio (OH) | #8692021 | #5192022 | #3972023 |
Kentucky (KY)
 Kentucky (KY) | #3872021 | #3202022 | #3672023 |
Tennessee (TN)
 Tennessee (TN) | #5342021 | #3002022 | #4872023 |
North Carolina (NC)
 North Carolina (NC) | #5182021 | #6592022 | #6812023 |
Florida (FL)
 Florida (FL) | #7812021 | #7292022 | #6102023 |
Louisiana (LA)
 Louisiana (LA) | #4252021 | #6612022 | #4902023 |
Georgia (GA)
 Georgia (GA) | #11772021 | #8692022 | #5902023 |
Missouri (MO)
 Missouri (MO) | #4252021 | #6002022 | #3832023 |
Indiana (IN)
 Indiana (IN) | #3062021 | #5642022 | #4162023 |
Oklahoma (OK)
 Oklahoma (OK) | #6332021 | #7042022 | #4662023 |
Illinois (IL)
 Illinois (IL) | #6952021 | #6202022 | #6462023 |
Pennsylvania (PA)
 Pennsylvania (PA) | #5862021 | #6042022 | #6182023 |
Michigan (MI)
 Michigan (MI) | #4402021 | #4262022 | #4272023 |
Alabama (AL)
 Alabama (AL) | #6892021 | #4432022 | #6352023 |
Virginia (VA)
 Virginia (VA) | #4942021 | #4152022 | #6722023 |
Arkansas (AR)
 Arkansas (AR) | #3152019 | #3942022 | #3382023 |
New York (NY)
 New York (NY) | #9982021 | #12352022 | #13312023 |
Utah (UT)
 Utah (UT) | #4342021 | #3802022 | #2452023 |
Colorado (CO)
 Colorado (CO) | #6582021 | #4822022 | #6772023 |
Kansas (KS)
 Kansas (KS) | #3882021 | #3582022 | #3502023 |
Washington (WA)
 Washington (WA) | #6922021 | #6532022 | #4462023 |
Iowa (IA)
 Iowa (IA) | #2282021 | #3632022 | #3082023 |
Mississippi (MS)
 Mississippi (MS) | #3652020 | #5552021 | #4752023 |
Wisconsin (WI)
 Wisconsin (WI) | #3662021 | #4102022 | #3672023 |
Minnesota (MN)
 Minnesota (MN) | #4342021 | #6772022 | #4382023 |
South Carolina (SC)
 South Carolina (SC) | #6052018 | #5052021 | #6642022 |
Arizona (AZ)
 Arizona (AZ) | #6962021 | #5632022 | #9382023 |
Oregon (OR)
 Oregon (OR) | #5542019 | #4182021 | #6172023 |
West Virginia (WV)
 West Virginia (WV) | #2112020 | #3442022 | #2402023 |
Maryland (MD)
 Maryland (MD) | #6522021 | #8272022 | #6172023 |
Nebraska (NE)
 Nebraska (NE) | #4472018 | #3392019 | #3562022 |
Idaho (ID)
 Idaho (ID) | #2782020 | #3242022 | #3132023 |
New Mexico (NM)
 New Mexico (NM) | #3281998 | #2762000 | #3782004 |
Montana (MT)
 Montana (MT) | #1922005 | #2412018 | #1472023 |
South Dakota (SD)
 South Dakota (SD) | #1812003 | #1852004 | #1972007 |
New Jersey (NJ)
 New Jersey (NJ) | #9942018 | #7342020 | #9452021 |
North Dakota (ND)
 North Dakota (ND) | #1122002 | #2612017 | #2382020 |
Massachusetts (MA)
 Massachusetts (MA) | #4822002 | #6662021 | #6912022 |
Wyoming (WY)
 Wyoming (WY) | #941988 | #1161990 | #1051994 |
Maine (ME)
 Maine (ME) | #1961961 | #1721964 | #1641974 |
Nevada (NV)
 Nevada (NV) | #2651997 | #3211999 | #3922001 |
Connecticut (CT)
 Connecticut (CT) | #2721962 | #3171963 | #3321986 |
Hawaii (HI)
 Hawaii (HI) | #2431962 | #2101963 | #2621991 |
District of Columbia (DC)
 District of Columbia (DC) | #2241954 | #2831958 |
Popularity Rankings for Clay in other Countries and American Territories
(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)
Popularity in New Zealand
 New Zealand | #3722003 | #3512005 |
Popularity in Northern Ireland
 Northern Ireland | #4152017 | #3652019 |
Popularity in Scotland
 Scotland | #3902020 | #4772021 | #4252022 |
Popularity in Ireland
 Ireland | #6462019 | #6372020 | #5522021 |
Popularity in England and Wales
 England and Wales | #5972019 | #6272020 | #5662021 |
Popularity in Quebec, Canada
 Quebec, Canada | #9782019 |
Popularity in Canada
 Canada | #12872019 | #10932020 | #13682021 |
Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources
Is Clay a Name for Boys or Girls?
Generally, Clay is a male name. Its Old English roots and association with earthy, practical work make it a traditional choice for boys.