Cooper vs David
Cooper and Davidcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2020, Cooper was ranked #12 and David #84 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2018, Cooper was ranked #29 and David #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Cooper was ranked #198 and David #45 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Cooper was ranked #139 and David #64 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Cooper was ranked #121 and David #71 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Cooper was ranked #125 and David #104 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Cooper and David over time
Cooper and David appear together in 5 published lists, across 97 years of shared records. David held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Cooper in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
David reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Cooper in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Cooper moved into the top 50 at #35 in 2002 as David fell out of it to #52, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2002, Cooper moved ahead of David in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #49 and #42 the year before became #35 and #52.
- Mirrored each other
Over 27 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Cooper rose about as far as David fell — from #2022 and #35 in 1997 to #139 and #64 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Cooper held the stronger position in 0 of those years, David in 27.
Highest recorded here: Cooper #134 in 2019, David #35 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cooper #139, David #64.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys19 shared years, 1998–2018
Cooper held the stronger position in 15 of those years, David in 4.
Highest recorded here: Cooper #4 in 2009, David #38 in 1999.
The order changed in 2002: Cooper moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #49 and #42; by 2002 that had become #35 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Cooper #29, David #97.
Northern Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 2006–2024
Cooper held the stronger position in 0 of those years, David in 18.
Highest recorded here: Cooper #120 in 2017, David #28 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cooper #125, David #104.
Republic of Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 2008–2025
Cooper held the stronger position in 0 of those years, David in 18.
Highest recorded here: Cooper #142 in 2018, David #21 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Cooper #198, David #45.
New Zealand · Boys15 shared years, 2006–2020
Cooper held the stronger position in 14 of those years, David in 1.
Highest recorded here: Cooper #12 in 2012, David #53 in 2007.
The order changed in 2007: Cooper moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #79 and #61; by 2007 that had become #42 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Cooper #12, David #84.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Cooper | David |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | An English occupational surname meaning 'barrel maker', from Middle English 'couper'. | Commonly interpreted as 'beloved', with a possible secondary sense of 'uncle' for the root. |
| Origin | English (occupational surname) | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkup.əɹ/ | /ˈdeɪvɪd/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #45 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Cooper is recorded with a English (occupational surname) origin, while David is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin.
- Cooper and David both have 2 syllables.
- Cooper's recorded meaning differs from David's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Cooper
Popularity journey
First recorded1997
First recorded at #2022 among boys in England and Wales in 1997 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded1998–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2009 (recorded 1998–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #19 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
David
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #167 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2018
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1961 (recorded 1952–2018).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #88 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys