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Clayton

♂ Boy

Pronounced KLAY-tun /ˈkleɪtən/High

Meaning: Clay settlement; a place built on clay soilHigh

In 30 seconds: A grounded English surname meaning 'clay settlement.' Clayton is warm, earthy, and solid — the dependable friend of surname names, with a southern-American association that makes it feel wide-open and honest.
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Origin HighEnglish
MeaningClay settlement; a place built on clay soil
U.S. rank (2025)#300 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births1,130 boys (0.06% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2000
Total births (all-time)≈ 139,339

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200018802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Clayton is an English topographic and place-name surname derived from the Old English claeg (clay) and tun (settlement, farm), meaning 'settlement on clay soil' or 'clay farm.' Clay soil was an important agricultural indicator in medieval England — heavy and fertile — and clay-place settlements were common across the English Midlands and North.

As a given name, Clayton has been used in the United States since the 19th century, with particular strength in the South. It has held a position in the top 200 for boys for several decades and carries the easy, open-land feel of a name at home in the American heartland.

Did you know? The Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson and strengthened U.S. antitrust law — named after U.S. Representative Henry De Lamar Clayton Jr., who authored the legislation.
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name — Clayton — etymology notesU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

Clay

Nicknames

ClayClayt

Famous Bearers

  • ★Clayton Kershaw (1988–present)
    American MLB pitcher, three-time Cy Young Award winner and considered one of the greatest pitchers of his era.

If you like Clayton…

Colton— English -ton place-name surname with the same warm, earthy American country character
Weston— English -ton surname name with the same grounded, trustworthy masculinity
Dalton— English -ton place-name with the same dependable, American heartland feel
Peyton— English -ton surname with the same warm, open Southern-American association

Frequently Asked

What does the name Clayton mean?

Clayton is an Old English place-name meaning 'clay settlement' or 'farm on clay soil,' from claeg (clay) and tun (settlement).

How do you pronounce Clayton?

It is said KLAY-tun /ˈkleɪtən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Clayton a boy or girl name?

Clayton is used almost exclusively as a boys' name.

How popular is Clayton?

Clayton has held a position in the U.S. top 200 for boys for several decades.