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Clay

Boy's name · #573 in the US (2025) · 90s wave

Popularity over time

Clay reached its best rank, #259, in 1961 and ranked #573 in 2025. Roughly 40,000 boys have been named Clay since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Clay is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 37 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Clay ranks in other countries and regions.

#576 in Scotland (2025) · #594 in Ireland (2025) · #848 in England & Wales (2025) · #778 in Canada (2024).

Famous Clays

• Clay Aiken — American singer-songwriter, actor, and record producer
• Clay Regazzoni — Swiss racecar driver
• Clay Shirky — American technology writer
• Clay Shaw — American businessman (1913–1974)
• Clay Higgins — American politician and reserve law enforcement officer

In stories & tradition

• Clay Jensen — Thirteen Reasons Why (book)
• Clay Morrow — Sons of Anarchy (TV series)
• Clay Quartermain — Marvel Comics

What Clays become

Among 295 notable people named Clay:

Sports figures appear 1.89× more often than among typical names — e.g. Clay Guida, American mixed martial artist (born 1981).

Similar names: Klay · Dexter · Clayton · Jay · Wade · Rudy

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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