Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Cooper
BoyEnglish· “barrel maker”
- Meaning
- barrel maker
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- KOO-pur
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #27
- US babies 2025
- 7,472
- Best rank
- #27 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Cooper
Cooper is an English name that means “barrel maker”.
Cooper is an English occupational surname for a maker of barrels and casks, a trade that was essential in medieval towns. The word comes from Middle English couper, related to Dutch kuiper. As a given name it follows the pattern of Carter, Mason and Hunter, trade names that became first names in the United States and elsewhere. The novelist James Fenimore Cooper, author of The Last of the Mohicans, made the surname familiar in literature. Today Cooper feels friendly, down-to-earth and a little playful. Coop is an easy nickname.
Famous parents who chose Cooper: Gabourey Sidibe and Brandon Frankel (2024). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Cooper first appears in US Social Security records in 1882. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 48 different years, starting in 1882. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #27, and its highest count, 7,472 babies. Use has grown 42% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #1,767 in 1920, #3,782 in 1950, #1,294 in 1980, #241 in 2000, #75 in 2010, and #27 in 2025. Of the 123,702 US boys named Cooper since records began, 40% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 33,528 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Santiago, Miles, Hudson, Bennett, and Luca.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Cooper ranked highest in Vermont, Iowa, and Idaho.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont | #4 | 26 |
| Iowa | #5 | 133 |
| Idaho | #6 | 86 |
| Nebraska | #6 | 82 |
| West Virginia | #6 | 68 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 98% of US babies named Cooper over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Cooper is usually pronounced KOO-pur, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with C and ends in “-er”.
Middle names for Cooper
A few middle names that flow with Cooper: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Cooper
Similar names
Carter Boy
KAHR-tur
“transporter of goods by cart” · English
#45
Walker Boy
WAW-kur
“cloth fuller” · English
#78
Archer Boy
AR-cher
“bowman” · English
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Hunter Boy
HUHN-tur
“hunter” · English
#130
Parker Unisex
PAHR-kur
“park keeper” · English
#102
Sawyer Unisex
SAW-yur
“one who saws wood” · English
#122
Ryder Boy
RY-dur
“horseman, rider” · English
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River Unisex
RIH-vur
“river” · English
#111
Tucker Boy
TUH-kur
“cloth fuller” · English
#181
Jasper Boy
JAS-pur
“treasurer; also a gemstone” · Persian
#129
Karter Boy
KAHR-tur
“cart driver” · English
#270
Gunner Boy
GUH-nur
“bold warrior; one who fires a gun” · Old Norse
#506
Lists that include Cooper
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Cooper mean?
Cooper is an English name that means “barrel maker”.
What is the origin of the name Cooper?
Cooper has English roots. Cooper is an English occupational surname for a maker of barrels and casks, a trade that was essential in medieval towns.
Is Cooper a popular name?
Yes. Cooper ranked #27 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Cooper a boy or girl name?
Cooper is mainly a boy's name. About 98% of US babies named Cooper over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Cooper?
Cooper is usually pronounced KOO-pur. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings