Clay vs Lee

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Clay

Boy #544 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"clay settlement, clay worker"

Origin: Old English

Cultural Roots

English American Southern American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#544
Total SSA Count
545
Syllables
1
Formality
Casual

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Clay →

Lee

Boy #715 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"meadow, woodland clearing"

Origin: Old English leah

Cultural Roots

English American Chinese (as Li) Korean

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#715
Total SSA Count
370
Syllables
1
Formality
Casual

Playground Safety Score

15 High Risk

{:type=>:rhyme, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Lee' rhymes with 'pee'"}

Full profile for Lee →

Popularity Comparison

Clay Rank #544
Lee Rank #715

Clay is more popular, ranked #544 vs #715 for Lee.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Clay ___

  • Clay Thomas
  • Clay Allen
  • Clay James
  • Clay Robert
  • Clay Edward
  • Clay Henry

Lee ___

  • Lee James
  • Lee Andrew
  • Lee Michael
  • Lee Thomas
  • Lee Roy
  • Lee Wayne

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Clay

Brock Wade Sawyer Reed Quinn

If you choose Lee

Dale Roy Kay Mae Scott

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clay or Lee more popular?

Clay is more popular, ranked #544 compared to Lee at #715 in the United States.

What do Clay and Lee mean?

Clay means "clay settlement, clay worker" (Old English origin). Lee means "meadow, woodland clearing" (Old English leah origin).

Are Clay and Lee boy or girl names?

Clay is primarily a boy name. Lee is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

Lee vs Clay Clay vs Abram Clay vs Francis Clay vs Gustavo Clay vs Bodie
← Full profile: Clay ← Full profile: Lee Browse all baby names