Boy name · English
Cooper
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: barrel makerCooper is a boy's name that comes from English and means "barrel maker". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Barrel maker
- Origin
- English
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #27 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Cooper
As a boy's name, Cooper comes from English and means "barrel maker". It is used in English.
Cooper is also a surname: the 72nd most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 271,453 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Cooper on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Cooper on 4 lists.
“An old trade name for a barrel maker”
From Redneck names for boys, classic country boy names
“An old barrel maker's surname with an easygoing feel”
From Boy dog names, popular boy dog names
“Barrel maker; English. Friendly trade surname”
From Boy middle names, surname middle names for boys
“A maker of barrels, casks and tubs”
From Cool last names, cool occupational last names
How popular is Cooper?
- US rank in 2025
- #27
- 7,472 babies, 4,375 per million boys
- Best rank
- #27 in 2025
- 7,472 babies that year
- Babies since 1882
- At least 123,702
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 27 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 18 per million |
| 1900s | 15 per million |
| 1910s | 24 per million |
| 1920s | 16 per million |
| 1930s | 13 per million |
| 1940s | 8 per million |
| 1950s | 6 per million |
| 1960s | 8 per million |
| 1970s | 14 per million |
| 1980s | 55 per million |
| 1990s | 322 per million |
| 2000s | 1,625 per million |
| 2010s | 2,620 per million |
| 2020s | 3,235 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #79 | #88 | #83 | #80 | #75 | #68 | #53 | #52 | #50 | #27 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Cooper
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- ColterFrom a surname for a keeper of horses (English, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- JazielVariant of Jaasiel, God is my maker (Hebrew, boy)
- BhaskarLight-maker, the sun (Sanskrit, boy)
- CashBox maker (Norman French, boy)
- DinkarDay-maker, the sun (Hindi, boy)
- DivakarDay-maker, the sun (Sanskrit, boy)
- FletcherArrow maker (Old French, boy)
- KashVariant of Cash, from a surname for a box maker (Norman French, boy)
- PrabhakarLight-maker, the sun (Sanskrit, boy)
- TylerTile maker (English, boy)
- WagnerWagon maker (German, boy)
Middle names for Cooper
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from English
- AinsleyFrom a place named for a solitary or hermitage clearing (English, unisex)
- ArmstrongStrong in the arm (English, boy)
- JacksonFrom a surname meaning son of Jack (English, boy)
- ScottFrom Scotland (English, boy)
- AceFrom the English word ace, highest rank (English, boy)
- AdairFrom a surname derived from Edgar (English, unisex)
- AndersonSon of Andrew (English, boy)
- ArloMeaning uncertain; perhaps from Spenser's Arlo Hill (English, boy)
- AyrtonSettlement on the River Aire (English, boy)
- BayA sheltered curve of coast (English, unisex)
Cooper: common questions
What does the name Cooper mean?
Cooper comes from English and means "barrel maker".
Is Cooper a boy or girl name?
Cooper is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 181 girls and 7,472 boys in the US were named Cooper, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Cooper come from?
Cooper comes from English and means "barrel maker". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Cooper?
Cooper ranked #27 in the US in 2025, with 7,472 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Cooper?
Names spelled like Cooper include Colter.
What middle names go with Cooper?
Middle names that flow well with Cooper include Drake, Grant, Isaac, Jonah and Paul. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.