Baby Name Popularity Profile

Clay

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Clay.

✦ Clay soil 🌍 English nature traditional
National Rank (2025) #573
All-Time Peak Rank #259 Achieved 1961
Total U.S. Births 40,252 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 99.9% Boy / 0.1% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1990s 904 births in 1960
💡 The Clay Vibe: Considered a Rising Star. A high-velocity modern choice demonstrating rapid, sustained growth in recent registries.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Clay soil
Language Origin English
Origin Type single
Derived from the English surname Clayton, which means 'settlement on clay soil'.
Pronunciation: Klay
Themes & Categories
nature traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Clay

According to SSA data, Clay achieved its highest historical rank of #259 in 1961. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1960 with 904 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have increased by 50.6%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Clay across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Rising
10-Year Shift +50.6% Growth
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 904 births in 1960
Years in Top 100 0 yrs
Years in Top 500 94 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 245
1890s: 292
1900s: 323
1910s: 1,015
1920s: 1,453
1930s: 1,188
1940s: 1,295
1950s: 4,336
1960s: 5,717
1970s: 4,330
1980s: 4,015
1990s: 5,806
2000s: 4,096
2010s: 3,266
2020s: 2,875

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Clay
Letter Count 4 letters
Spelling Complexity Easy
Length Percentile Longer than 1.4% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 1.4% of SSA names. Starts with C, a letter used by only 5.7% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Clay.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Kentucky
Top States Kentucky, Utah, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Louisiana
States with Data 46
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Kentucky #285 1,654 2002 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #331 642 1960 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #430 1,019 1962 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #436 1,581 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana #603 1,314 1960 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #334 741 1995 Insufficient historical volume
Montana Unranked 193 1961 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #754 4,377 1960 2.7% Decline
Idaho #338 224 1959 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #240 1,263 1961 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #435 584 1997 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #517 1,543 1997 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #697 600 1960 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama #533 894 1960 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota Unranked 158 1961 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #284 1,100 2002 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #1235 1,286 1960 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #146 585 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi Unranked 536 1958 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #501 901 1960 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #917 1,344 1995 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #721 1,728 1994 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #342 586 1958 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #535 439 1961 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #631 313 1960 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico Unranked 184 1957 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska #343 237 1961 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina Unranked 464 1959 Insufficient historical volume
Wyoming Unranked 42 1961 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #659 541 1961 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota Unranked 98 1960 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia #309 259 1922 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #360 546 2011 Insufficient historical volume
California #734 2,629 1961 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #426 922 1961 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #645 1,019 1961 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #530 997 1995 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #641 249 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada Unranked 35 1997 Insufficient historical volume
Hawaii Unranked 29 1963 Insufficient historical volume
New York #1325 684 1960 Insufficient historical volume
Maine Unranked 36 1960 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey Unranked 144 1961 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts Unranked 92 1959 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut Unranked 35 1958 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia Unranked 12 1954 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Jeffrey Gregory Phillip Dean Mark Mike Nick Karl Todd Kent
👧 Sister Suggestions
Jacqueline Beth Jill Gwyn Elke Kris Gaye Fran Mark Barb

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