Clay vs Memphis

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 →

Memphis

Boy #589 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"enduring and beautiful"

Origin: Ancient Egyptian (Men-nefer)

Cultural Roots

American Southern US Ancient Egyptian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#589
Total SSA Count
484
Syllables
2
Formality
Casual
Nicknames
Mem, Memp

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Memphis →

Popularity Comparison

Clay Rank #544
Memphis Rank #589

Clay is more popular, ranked #544 vs #589 for Memphis.

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

Memphis ___

  • Memphis James
  • Memphis Lee
  • Memphis Ray
  • Memphis Cole
  • Memphis Blue
  • Memphis Jackson

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Clay

Brock Wade Sawyer Reed Quinn

If you choose Memphis

Jackson Nash Savannah Tallulah Phoenix

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 Memphis more popular?

Clay is more popular, ranked #544 compared to Memphis at #589 in the United States.

What do Clay and Memphis mean?

Clay means "clay settlement, clay worker" (Old English origin). Memphis means "enduring and beautiful" (Ancient Egyptian (Men-nefer) origin).

Are Clay and Memphis boy or girl names?

Clay is primarily a boy name. Memphis is primarily a boy name.

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← Full profile: Clay ← Full profile: Memphis Browse all baby names