CLAY  

Gender: M
Origin: English word name; diminutive of CLAYTON

Popularity in 2008: #849

Rich one-syllable name with a southern-inflected handsome-rogue image, featured on soap operas and reality TV. Why the precipitous drop in popularity over the past handful of years? We're blaming Clay Aiken.

Variations:
Klay, Klee

Clay is being discussed in our message boards:

• Names heard about town in the last week or so
• People named after something else
• Pregers is my name and naming is my game!!
• Nature names!
• Architect Names, Anyone?

Read Nameberry blog posts about Clay:

• HOORAY FOR HENRY: The quirky classic that manages to stay cool
• 70'S BABY NAMES: Beyond Tiffany & Todd
• AFRICAN-AMERICAN NAMES: Early Classical Choices
• THE UN-WEIRDLY-NAMED STARBABY BOYS
• MEMORIAL DAY NAMES: SHILOH & SHERIDAN