Names / Clay
Is Clay a first name or a last name?
Clay is both: a family name in some places and a given name in others. It is mostly a family name in the United Kingdom.
How to address someone called Clay
- United States. Clay is used both ways: about 48,844 people had it as a surname in the 2010 census, and 30,925 babies born between 1950 and 2017 were given it as a first name. Look at where it sits in the name and how the person signs.
- United Kingdom. Clay is a family name, usually written last. Write Dear Mr. Clay or Dear Ms. Clay.
Not sure which part of a full name is which? Check the full name with the country where the person is based.
Clay by country
People recorded in Wikidata who carry Clay as a family name or as a given name, by country of citizenship (461 in total).
| Country | As family name | As given name | Family name share |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 117 | 238 | 33% |
| United Kingdom | 43 | 4 | 91% |
| Canada | 7 | 9 | 44% |
| Australia | 10 | 2 | 83% |
| New Zealand | 5 | 1 | 83% |
| Brazil | 1 | 2 | 33% |
| Netherlands | 2 | 1 | 67% |
| France | 3 | 0 | 100% |
Wikidata covers notable people, so counts show how the name is used, not how many people carry it.
Clay in the United States
- As a surname: about 48,844 people in the 2010 census, rank 708 among US surnames.
- As a first name: 30,925 babies born between 1950 and 2017, 0% of them girls.
Clay as a given name: men or women?
About 1% of people with Clay as a given name in Wikidata are women, and 0% of US babies given the name. This describes the name, not any one person: a title is usually a safe guess, but the full name without a title is always polite.
Related names
James · Paul · Thomas · George · Henry · Albert · Alexander · Frank · Arthur · Francis