The first name Clay
A boy’s name from English meaning “clay”.
Pronounced /kleɪ/ 1 syllable Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
English origin
Clay means “clay” in English.
From a Middle English occupational name for a clay worker, or a habitational name, from Old English clǣġ (“clay”).
Clay is a short form of
.From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 38 boys were named Clay, making it the 845th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2021, with 68 births (#566).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Clay with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Clay at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 515 boys born in the United States were named Clay, the 573rd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1960, when 904 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Clay
21 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Clay AikenAmerican singer-songwriter, actor, and record producer, born 1978
- Clay ShirkyAmerican technology writer, born 1964
- Henry Clay FrickAmerican industrialist (1849-1919)
- Clay ShawAmerican businessman (1913-1974)
- Clay HigginsAmerican politician and reserve law enforcement officer, born 1961
- Margaret Clay FergusonAmerican botanist and botanical collector (1863-1951)
- Clay GuidaAmerican mixed martial artist (born 1981)
- Clay Matthews IIIAmerican football player (born 1986)
- Clay ClementAmerican actor (1888–1956)
- Henry Clay WorkAmerican composer and songwriter (1832-1884)
- Clay WalkerAmerican singer, born 1969
- Clay WilsonAmerican ice hockey player, born 1983
More English boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Clay mean?
- Clay means “clay” in English.
- What is the origin of the name Clay?
- From a Middle English occupational name for a clay worker, or a habitational name, from Old English clǣġ (“clay”).
- How popular is the name Clay?
- In 2025, 38 boys born in England and Wales were named Clay, ranking 845th. Its peak was 2021, with 68 births.
- Is Clay a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 40,525 US babies named Clay since 1880 were boys.
- When was Clay most popular?
- 1960 in the United States, when 904 babies were named Clay, its highest rank at 265th.
- How do you pronounce Clay?
- Clay is /kleɪ/, one syllable.
- Is Clay also a surname?
- Yes. Clay is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.