Clayton is a distinctive girls' name in United States, ranking #7671 in 2000 with 13 recorded births. This places Clayton in the top 43% of ranked US girls' names for the year. Its actual usage is classified as Rare. The name reached its all-time peak in 2004 with 14 births ranking #7926. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 116.7%. In 2000, approximately 1 in every 139,690 girls born was named Clayton. RISING Recent data shows the name is currently rising.
Clayton is an English place-name and surname name meaning "clay settlement". It has a steady, traditional sound and fits easily with modern surname-style naming.
The name followed the familiar path from English place name to surname to first name. Its long use has made it feel more established than many newer surname names.