Clay
Boy name · #573 in 2025 · Uniqueness 50/100
Clay is currently the #573 boy name in the United States — 515 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #720, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,495 boys born in 2025 was named Clay.
The 145-year story
Clay first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 18 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1960, when 904 boys were named Clay — good for #265 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Clay per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Clay against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Clay in class?
Clay scores 50 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Clay is most common
Geography matters for names, and Clay is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Clays were CA (36), TX (36), MO (30), IA (29), IN (28). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Clay
Statistically, parents drawn to Clay tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Rudy, Jay, Ray, Rocky, and Joey.
RudyJayRayRockyJoeyKennyEddyNelson
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Clay | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 515 | #573 |
| 2024 | 545 | #544 |
| 2023 | 494 | #581 |
| 2022 | 453 | #618 |
| 2021 | 451 | #617 |
| 2020 | 417 | #644 |
| 2019 | 376 | #682 |
| 2018 | 353 | #688 |
| 2017 | 355 | #694 |
| 2016 | 339 | #723 |
| 2015 | 342 | #720 |
| 2014 | 269 | #840 |
| 2013 | 321 | #729 |
| 2012 | 322 | #726 |
| 2011 | 316 | #720 |
| 2010 | 273 | #793 |
| 2009 | 213 | #948 |
| 2008 | 250 | #853 |
| 2007 | 281 | #775 |
| 2006 | 309 | #707 |
| 2005 | 330 | #654 |
| 2004 | 383 | #582 |
| 2003 | 519 | #478 |
| 2002 | 597 | #417 |
| 2001 | 573 | #427 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Clay a popular boy name?
Clay ranked #573 among boys in 2025 with 515 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #720.
When was the name Clay most popular?
Clay peaked in 1960, when 904 American boys received the name (ranked #265 that year). Since 1960 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Clay?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,495 newborn American boys was named Clay. It scores 50/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.