Clay Name Meaning, Popularity and Origins
Origin:
English
Gender Distribution:
99% Masculine / 1% Feminine
Meaning:
Clay means 'mud' or 'earth' in Old English.
Meaning of the Name Clay
Clay is a name of English origin. It is derived from the Old English word 'claeg' which means 'mud, clay'. The name represents the earth itself, symbolizing strength and grounding. Clay has been used as a building material for centuries, and is associated with creativity and craftsmanship. It is also a nature-inspired name, evoking images of natural landscapes and earthy tones.
Popularity of the Name Clay
The popularity for the name Clay peaked in popularity in the year 1960 with 904 births, which ranked number 577 out of 10,752 unique names for that year. Clay had the most female births in 1942 with 14, which ranked number 2,415 out of 5,378 female names for that year, and had the most male births in 1960 with 904, which ranked number 264 out of 4,596 male names for that year. The number of births for the name Clay has increased sharply over the last ten years from 322 births to 450 births, an increase of 39.75%. Among males, Clay has increased sharply in popularity over the last ten years from 322 births to 450 births, an increase of 39.75%.
Nationwide Popularity of Clay
- 20 Year Trend of Clay: -24.50%
- 10 Year Trend of Clay: 39.75%
- 10 Year Male Trend of Clay: 39.75%
Popularity of Clay by State
For males, Clay was most popular in Southeastern states with 142 births in the region. It was most commonly seen in TX, with 33 male births. See below for a full state by state breakdown of the name Clay. States with less than five births recorded will not be shown.
| State | Male Births | Male Gender Rank | Female Births | Female Gender Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL | 11 | 438 | < 5 | N/A |
| AR | 8 | 385 | < 5 | N/A |
| AZ | 11 | 556 | < 5 | N/A |
| CA | 32 | 784 | < 5 | N/A |
| CO | 11 | 476 | < 5 | N/A |
| FL | 20 | 721 | < 5 | N/A |
| GA | 10 | 856 | < 5 | N/A |
| IA | 10 | 356 | < 5 | N/A |
| ID | 7 | 315 | < 5 | N/A |
| IL | 15 | 614 | < 5 | N/A |
| IN | 11 | 558 | < 5 | N/A |
| KS | 10 | 349 | < 5 | N/A |
| KY | 15 | 317 | < 5 | N/A |
| LA | 7 | 643 | < 5 | N/A |
| MA | 6 | 671 | < 5 | N/A |
| MD | 5 | 798 | < 5 | N/A |
| MI | 20 | 422 | < 5 | N/A |
| MN | 7 | 656 | < 5 | N/A |
| MO | 9 | 586 | < 5 | N/A |
| NC | 14 | 648 | < 5 | N/A |
| NE | 7 | 344 | < 5 | N/A |
| NY | 9 | 1212 | < 5 | N/A |
| OH | 19 | 514 | < 5 | N/A |
| OK | 5 | 674 | < 5 | N/A |
| PA | 15 | 599 | < 5 | N/A |
| SC | 6 | 651 | < 5 | N/A |
| TN | 27 | 294 | < 5 | N/A |
| TX | 33 | 794 | < 5 | N/A |
| UT | 12 | 374 | < 5 | N/A |
| VA | 19 | 410 | < 5 | N/A |
| WA | 10 | 648 | < 5 | N/A |
| WI | 12 | 403 | < 5 | N/A |
| WV | 5 | 331 | < 5 | N/A |
2024 Popularity Projections for Clay
- Total Births of Clay: 465 (3.40%)
- Male Births of Clay: 465 (3.40%)
Given the upward trend of Clay over the last 10 years, we expect this to continue in 2024 with roughly a 3.40% increase in total births, for a total of 465 births in 2024. Male births for Clay have been increasing over the past decade, so we anticipate roughly 465 male births in 2024, an increase of 3.40%.