Boys' name · since 1912
Barclay
954 babies named Barclay in U.S. Social Security records since 1912, with the highest year being 1970. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- #5,288 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 954
- born since 1912
- 1970s
- peak decade
Barclay sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 954 recorded since 1912.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Barclay has been recorded 954 times among boys since 1912, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1970s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1912 to 2021.
- #5,288 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 954 born since 1912
- 1970s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Barclay ranks #5,288 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 954 born since 1912, peaking in the 1970s.
- #5,288 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 954
- born since 1912
- 1970s
- peak decade
Barclay's 954 recorded births place it above 88.37% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 1 jurisdictions, led by California.
Barclay's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Barclay's SSA record in two at 1961 and the more recent half accounts for 51% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 49%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1919, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1970 peak of 26, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Barclay popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1912–2021
- Peak year (1970)
- 26
- Annual births at peak, across 110 years of records
Barclay popularity over time - girls
24 total births recorded since 1969 (Barclay as girls' name)
Barclay by decade
1970s is the heaviest window (147 births, 15% of the file).
1970s was Barclay's strongest decade.
147 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 15% of all-time use.
Barclay births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 52
1910s
52 births
- 1920s
1920s
59 births
- 1930s
1930s
99 births
- 1940s
1940s
121 births
- 1950s
1950s
131 births
- 1960s
1960s
115 births
- 1970s
1970s
147 births
- 1980s
1980s
115 births
- 1990s
1990s
71 births
- 2000s 22
2000s
22 births
- 2010s 16
2010s
16 births
- 2020s 6
2020s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 147 births (15% of all-time use).
How Barclay compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Barclay's total volume
Barclay by state
Where Barclay concentrates geographically, total births since 1912
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 5 | 0.5% |
5 of 954 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Barclay's data
- Barclay's decade-level peak was the 1970s (147 total births); usage has since declined to 6 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Barclays (5 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Barclay
Nearby Names Like Barclay
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Barclay
Compare Barclay side by side: Barclay vs Barry Barclay vs Barrett Barclay vs Bart
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Barclay: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1970)
Similar record span (~109 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1912–2021 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Barclay draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.