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The short answer
Clay is a masculine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From an English surname that originally referred to a person who lived near or worked with clay. This name can also be a short form of Clayton." It ranked #573 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from an English surname that originally referred to a person who lived near or worked with clay. This name can also be a short form of Clayton. The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Clay ranked #573 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #573 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Clay in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Clay mean?
Behind the Name does not give Clay a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: from an English surname that originally referred to a person who lived near or worked with clay.
Is Clay a popular name?
Clay ranked #573 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Clay a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Clay appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Clay — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
