Boy
Old English
1 syllable
Clay
KLAY
/kleɪ/
"From the clay" — a grounded American nature name with frontier spirit
Clay is an Old English name and word meaning clayey earth or a worker with clay. It was originally a surname for people living in clay-rich land or those who worked with clay. As a given name, Clay has a distinctly American frontier character. The name gained special association with boxing legend Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) and has a bold, one-syllable energy.
Quick Facts
Letters4
SyllablesClay
GenderBoy
OriginOld English
Root WordClaeg (clay earth)
MeaningClay worker, mortal earth
PopularityModerately Popular
Peak Year1965
Trend
→ Stable
Name DayN/A
Nicknames
CClayton
About the Name Clay
Clay means clayey earth or a worker with clay, from the Old English claeg, evoking the most fundamental material of the earth.
Clay is an Old English word and surname used as a given name, particularly in the American South and West.
Clay peaked in the 1960s and remains moderately popular, appreciated for its short, grounded American feel.
Clay James, Clay Hunter, and Clay Walker are rugged and natural combinations.
Clay suggests someone grounded, reliable, and capable — someone who gets things done with minimal fuss.
The standard spelling is Clay. The longer form Clayton is a related but distinct name.
Personality of Clay
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Clay
Creativity
70%
Elegance
62%
Independence
82%
Intelligence
72%
Strength
82%
Warmth
78%
Famous People Named Clay
C
Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali)
Born Cassius Clay, the greatest heavyweight boxer in history
H
Henry Clay
American statesman and senator known as the Great Compromiser
C
Clay Aiken
American singer and runner-up on American Idol Season 2
Middle Names for Clay
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Clay
Clay James
Clay Thomas
Clay Lee
Clay Allen
Clay Michael
Clay Hunter
Clay Walker
Clay Reed
Clay Ridge
Clay Wilder
Names Similar to Clay
Similar Sound
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Clay
1000
Clay used in Old English as a word for clayey earth and later as a surname
1777
Henry Clay born in Virginia, later becoming a legendary American statesman
1942
Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) born, making the name part of boxing legend
1965
Clay reaches peak popularity in the United States
Numerology & Symbolism of Clay
5
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
1
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Taurus
4
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Earth Brown
💎
Lucky Stone
Jasper
🌸
Lucky Flower
Marigold
Clay Around the World
How Clay is written in different languages and scripts
كلي
Arabic
クレイ
Japanese
Клей
Russian
클레이
Korean
克雷
Chinese
Κλει
Greek
क्ले
Hindi
קלי
Hebrew
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