Holding steady.
Popularity of Barclay since 1912
Babies named Barclay per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1970, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Barclay's real moment was 1913.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 52 |
| 1920s | 59 |
| 1930s | 99 |
| 1940s | 121 |
| 1950s | 131 |
| 1960s | 115 |
| 1970s | 147 |
| 1980s | 115 |
| 1990s | 71 |
| 2000s | 22 |
| 2010s | 16 |
| 2020s | 6 |
Meaning & origin
Barclay is a distinctive Scottish surname-turned-given name that has seen limited but steady use in the United States. According to Social Security data, the name first appeared in 1912 and reached its peak rank in 1913, though it has never ranked among the top names. Its trajectory is classified as stable, indicating consistent but infrequent usage over the decades. As a transferred place name, it carries a strong sense of heritage and geography, appealing to parents interested in Scottish roots or rare, established names. Despite its low numbers, Barclay offers a unique alternative to more common surname-style names like Brooks or Parker.
Barclay is a Scottish surname derived from the place name Berkeley in Gloucestershire, England, which comes from Old English "beorce" (birch) and "leah" (clearing or meadow). The name was brought to Scotland by a Norman family in the 12th century. As a given name, Barclay has been in occasional use since the late 19th century, primarily in Scotland and among families of Scottish descent.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Bar, Barry, Clay
Sibling names for Barclay
Names that share Barclay's style, for a brother or sister.
