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