What does Cooper mean?
Cooper is an English occupational surname for a maker of barrels and casks.
What does Lincoln mean?
An English place name, from Roman Lindum Colonia, “colony by the pool.” Borne by a US president.
Cooper vs Lincoln
Which is more popular?
Cooper is more popular than Lincoln today: about 7,472 US babies were given the name Cooper in 2025, compared with 4,703 named Lincoln.
| Cooper | Lincoln | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Barrel maker | Lake colony |
| Origin | English | English |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | KOO-per | LINK-un |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1882 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2025 (7,472) | 2017 (8,202) |
| In 2025 | 7,472 | 4,703 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Cooper
Lincoln
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Cooper | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 33,528 | 33,535 |
| 2010s | 49,273 | 52,017 |
| 2000s | 32,438 | 8,804 |
| 1990s | 6,274 | 1,693 |
| 1980s | 1,020 | 1,158 |
| 1970s | 238 | 1,318 |
| 1960s | 155 | 1,260 |
| 1950s | 118 | 818 |
| 1940s | 117 | 845 |
| 1930s | 135 | 852 |
| 1920s | 172 | 1,302 |
| 1910s | 163 | 905 |
| 1900s | 20 | 176 |
| 1890s | 21 | 141 |
| 1880s | 30 | 94 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Cooper or Lincoln more popular?
Cooper is more popular than Lincoln today: about 7,472 US babies were given the name Cooper in 2025, compared with 4,703 named Lincoln.
What is the difference between Cooper and Lincoln?
Cooper means Barrel maker (English origin), while Lincoln means Lake colony (English origin).
Which name is older, Cooper or Lincoln?
In US records, Cooper first appears in 1882 and Lincoln in 1880, so Lincoln has the longer recorded history.