Find out how popular the first name Clayton has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Clayton by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Clayton is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Clayton being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,062 male babies and 8 female babies born with the name Clayton.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 8 baby girls were named Clayton in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Clayton

The given name Clayton has its origins in the Old English language, derived from the combination of two words: "clā" meaning "clay" or "clayey soil," and "tūn" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." It essentially translates to "settlement on clayey soil" or "clay town." The name can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era, around the 5th to 11th centuries AD, when it was likely used to refer to specific locations or settlements built on clay-rich lands.

One of the earliest known references to the name Clayton can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript record of the great survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. Several places in England, such as Clayton in Lancashire and Clayton in West Yorkshire, were mentioned in this historic document, indicating the name's usage as a place name during the Norman period.

As a given name for individuals, Clayton can be traced back to the 16th century. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Clayton Musgrave (c. 1509 - c. 1579), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Westmorland in 1558.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Clayton. One such person was Clayton Mordaunt Cracherode (1730 - 1799), an English clergyman and book collector whose extensive library was bequeathed to the British Museum upon his death. Another famous Clayton was Clayton Moore (1914 - 1999), an American actor best known for portraying the iconic role of the Lone Ranger in the television series of the same name.

In the field of science, Clayton Shagrin (1924 - 2016) was an American physicist and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of radar technology during World War II and the Cold War era. Additionally, Clayton Christensen (1952 - 2020) was a renowned Harvard Business School professor and author who popularized the theory of "disruptive innovation."

Sir Clayton Randolph Cock-burn (1905 - 1987) was a British civil servant and diplomat who served as the Governor of the Windward Islands from 1954 to 1959, playing an important role in the decolonization process of the Caribbean.

While the name Clayton has English roots, it has gained popularity across various cultures and regions over time. Its meaning and historical connections to settlements and clay-rich lands have made it a distinctive and enduring given name throughout the centuries.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Clayton was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Clayton, please contact us.

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