Clayton
Boy name · #300 in 2025 · Uniqueness 52/100
Clayton ranks #300 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 1,130 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #248, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,593 boys born in 2025 was named Clayton.
Babies named Clayton per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Clayton first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 60 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2000, when 2,564 boys were named Clayton — good for #151 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Clayton against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Clayton in class?
Clayton scores 52 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Clayton is most common
Geography matters for names, and Clayton is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Claytons were TX (84), CA (72), MI (57), FL (51), OH (50). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Clayton
Statistically, parents drawn to Clayton tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Preston, Quinton, Dalton, Brandon, and Colin.
PrestonQuintonDaltonBrandonColinCameronKeatonAshton
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Clayton | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,130 | #300 |
| 2024 | 1,083 | #318 |
| 2023 | 1,067 | #310 |
| 2022 | 1,200 | #286 |
| 2021 | 1,237 | #279 |
| 2020 | 1,172 | #289 |
| 2019 | 1,308 | #273 |
| 2018 | 1,451 | #254 |
| 2017 | 1,493 | #250 |
| 2016 | 1,376 | #266 |
| 2015 | 1,479 | #248 |
| 2014 | 1,365 | #271 |
| 2013 | 1,387 | #258 |
| 2012 | 1,367 | #261 |
| 2011 | 1,345 | #257 |
| 2010 | 1,361 | #251 |
| 2009 | 1,264 | #272 |
| 2008 | 1,577 | #234 |
| 2007 | 1,446 | #247 |
| 2006 | 1,595 | #226 |
| 2005 | 1,662 | #215 |
| 2004 | 1,923 | #198 |
| 2003 | 2,130 | #183 |
| 2002 | 2,160 | #178 |
| 2001 | 2,351 | #162 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Clayton a popular boy name?
Clayton ranked #300 among boys in 2025 with 1,130 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #248.
When was the name Clayton most popular?
Clayton peaked in 2000, when 2,564 American boys received the name (ranked #151 that year). Since 2000 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Clayton?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,593 newborn American boys was named Clayton. It scores 52/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.