Clayton
Meaningclay town · Old English
- US rank
- #300
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #147 in 1997
1,130 babies were named Clayton in the US in 2025. It has dropped 11 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Clayton you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Clayton
Clayton Anderson
American astronaut and engineer
Choose Clayton and your child shares a first name with Clayton Anderson, an American astronaut and engineer. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Clayton, like who?” Clayton Anderson's Wikipedia article is available in 32 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Clayton Anderson on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: NASA, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 1,511 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Clayton, 1,130 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Clayton would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryClayton has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Claytons, and counting.
- Best yearIts best year was 1997, when it reached #147.
- Where it's lovedClayton is most popular in West Virginia, where it ranks #101, followed by Idaho (#118) and Maine (#151). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn Old English, Clayton means “clay town”.
About the name Clayton
Clayton is a boy name of English origin meaning “clay town”. It has 7 letters and 2 syllables, starting with C and ending in “-ton”. US birth records list Clayton for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1997, when it ranked #147 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #300, with 1,130 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 597 | 1,674 boys |
| 1890s | 658 | 1,519 boys |
| 1900s | 774 | 1,293 boys |
| 1910s | 840 | 1,191 boys |
| 1920s | 854 | 1,170 boys |
| 1930s | 680 | 1,471 boys |
| 1940s | 480 | 2,084 boys |
| 1950s | 459 | 2,179 boys |
| 1960s | 479 | 2,087 boys |
| 1970s | 655 | 1,526 boys |
| 1980s | 916 | 1,092 boys |
| 1990s | 1,123 | 890 boys |
| 2000s | 939 | 1,065 boys |
| 2010s | 741 | 1,349 boys |
| 2020s | 665 | 1,505 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Clayton
What does the name Clayton mean?
Clayton means “clay town” in Old English.
What is the origin of the name Clayton?
Clayton has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Clayton a boy or girl name?
Clayton is a boy name.
How popular is the name Clayton?
Clayton ranked #300 for US boys in 2025, given to 1,130 babies. Its best year was 1997 (#147).