Clay

At a Glance: Name: Clay – Meaning: clay, earth; occupational surname for a clay-worker – Origin: English (Old English clǣġ) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: KLAY

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Clay is a short, grounded English name that traces back to the Old English word clǡġ, meaning clay or earth — it began as an occupational surname for someone who worked with clay. It's pronounced KLAY, plain and easy to say, with an earthy, natural feel to match its meaning.

Meaning & Origin of Clay

Meaning: Clay, earth; occupational surname for a clay-worker.

Origin: English (Old English clǣġ).

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Clay

Phonetic: KLAY   IPA: /ˈkleɪ/

Popularity of Clay

Clay hit its high point in 1961, when 900 boys were given the name and it ranked #259. By 2024 it had settled to #543, with 545 babies named Clay that year.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Clay Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Clay, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

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FAQ

What does the name Clay mean?

Clay, earth; occupational surname for a clay-worker. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Clay)

How do you pronounce Clay?

Clay is pronounced KLAY (IPA: /ˈkleɪ/).

Is Clay a popular name right now?

Clay peaked at #259 in 1961 and is ranked #543 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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