Clay Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Clay is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Clay?
Clay is spelled C-L-A-Y. The name has 4 letters.
Clay at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Clay refers to a natural earthy material composed primarily of fine-grained minerals used in pottery and construction.
- Origin
- The name Clay is derived from the English word for a natural earth material.
- Pronunciation
- klay · 1 syllable
Clay Popularity in 2025
Rank#573
Recorded Births515
- Boys usage fell 29 places to #573 and recorded 30 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Clay Mean?
Clay refers to a natural earthy material composed primarily of fine-grained minerals used in pottery and construction.
Origin: The name Clay is derived from the English word for a natural earth material.
How Do You Pronounce Clay?
Pronunciationklay
Syllables1
What Is the History of the Name Clay?
- History
- Clay has been used as a personal name in English-speaking countries, often first appearing as a surname and later adopted as a given name.
Clay Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2004 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 515 | #573 |
| 2024 | Girls | 5 | #15,293 |
| 2024 | Boys | 545 | #544 |
| 2023 | Boys | 494 | #581 |
| 2022 | Boys | 453 | #618 |
| 2021 | Boys | 451 | #617 |
| 2020 | Girls | 5 | #15,088 |
| 2020 | Boys | 417 | #644 |
| 2019 | Boys | 376 | #682 |
| 2018 | Boys | 353 | #688 |
| 2017 | Boys | 355 | #694 |
| 2016 | Boys | 339 | #723 |
| 2015 | Boys | 342 | #720 |
| 2014 | Boys | 269 | #840 |
| 2013 | Boys | 321 | #729 |
| 2012 | Boys | 322 | #726 |
| 2011 | Boys | 316 | #720 |
| 2010 | Boys | 273 | #793 |
| 2009 | Boys | 213 | #948 |
| 2008 | Boys | 250 | #853 |
| 2007 | Boys | 281 | #775 |
| 2006 | Boys | 309 | #707 |
| 2005 | Boys | 330 | #654 |
| 2004 | Girls | 5 | #16,099 |
When Was Clay Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1960 · Boys
904 recorded births
National rank #265
1961 · Boys
900 recorded births
National rank #259
1959 · Boys
826 recorded births
National rank #276
1958 · Boys
723 recorded births
National rank #284
Where Clay Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| IA | #143 | 29 |
| MO | #238 | 30 |
| KY | #281 | 19 |
| IN | #283 | 28 |
| WV | #299 | 6 |
| UT | #327 | 14 |
| AR | #332 | 10 |
| ID | #332 | 7 |