Clayton vs Sterling

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Clayton

Boy #318 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Cultural Roots

English American Australian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank: #318
Total SSA Count: 1,081
Syllables: 2
Formality: Moderate
Nicknames: Clay, C.J.

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear

Similar Names

Lawson Johnathan Arlo Wade

Full profile for Clayton →

Sterling

Boy #373 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"little star"

Origin: Old English

Cultural Roots

English Scottish American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank: #373
Total SSA Count: 880
Syllables: 2
Formality: Formal
Nicknames: Sterl, Ster

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear

Similar Names

Tobias Kane Erick Brady

Full profile for Sterling →

Popularity Comparison

Clayton Rank #318

Sterling Rank #373

Clayton is more popular, ranked #318 vs #373 for Sterling.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Clayton ___

Clayton James
Clayton Michael
Clayton Thomas
Clayton William
Clayton Alexander
Clayton Reed

Sterling ___

Sterling James
Sterling Cole
Sterling Grant
Sterling Thomas
Sterling Alexander
Sterling Reid

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Clayton

Colton Landon Brayden Savannah Aubrey

If you choose Sterling

Sloane Crew Beckett Palmer Archer

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 Clayton or Sterling more popular?

Clayton is more popular, ranked #318 compared to Sterling at #373 in the United States.

What do Clayton and Sterling mean?

Sterling means "little star" (Old English origin).

Are Clayton and Sterling boy or girl names?

Clayton is primarily a boy name. Sterling is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

Sterling vs Clayton Clayton vs Lawson Clayton vs Johnathan Clayton vs Arlo Clayton vs Wade

← Full profile: Clayton ← Full profile: Sterling Browse all baby names