Clayton
How to say it: KLAY-tun · /ˈkleɪtən/
From an English surname and place name meaning 'settlement on clay land', from Old English 'claeg' (clay) + 'tun' (settlement).
Clayton was the 291st most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 1,130 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1990s, its births are down about 23% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #337 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #291 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 1,130 |
| Share of births | 1 in 2,719 |
| Peak decade | 1990s |
| Change over 10 years | −23% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #337 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,000 among boys’ names, 20 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Present in every era without interruption, Clayton has never gone out of use. Its high came in the 1990s and it now stands well below that level with further slipping likely.
What goes with it
Firm consonants ground a steady rhythm with quiet resolve. Dalton and Preston share the style.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Clayton is about 1 in 114.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #1,000 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Clayton
- Clayton Anderson (born 1959)American astronaut and engineer
- Clayton Stanley (born 1978)Volleyball player
- Clayton Ince (born 1972)Trinidad and Tobago footballer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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