Namewise

Cooper vs Lincoln

Cooper and Lincolncompared 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 2023, Cooper was ranked #21 and Lincoln #84 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2024, Cooper was ranked #30 and Lincoln #95 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Cooper was ranked #121 and Lincoln #478 among boys in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Cooper was ranked #125 and Lincoln #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Cooper was ranked #139 and Lincoln #260 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Cooper was ranked #198 and Lincoln #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Cooper and Lincoln over time

Cooper and Lincoln appear together in 5 published lists, across 89 years of shared records. Cooper held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Lincoln in 1.

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.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.

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 moved ahead of the other

    In 2021, Cooper moved ahead of Lincoln in England and Wales · Boys — #156 and #149 the year before became #145 and #164.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Cooper and Lincoln changed places 11 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #139 and #260.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Cooper #134 in 2019, Lincoln #106 in 2017.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 19972024

    Cooper held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Lincoln in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Cooper #134 in 2019, Lincoln #106 in 2017.

    The order changed in 2021: Cooper moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #156 and #149; by 2021 that had become #145 and #164.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Cooper #139, Lincoln #260.

  • New Zealand · Boys17 shared years, 20072023

    Cooper held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Lincoln in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Cooper #12 in 2012, Lincoln #33 in 2021.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Cooper #21, Lincoln #84.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys16 shared years, 20092024

    Cooper held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Lincoln in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Cooper #4 in 2009, Lincoln #50 in 2017.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Cooper #30, Lincoln #95.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 20062024

    Cooper held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Lincoln in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Cooper #120 in 2017, Lincoln #202 in 2017.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Cooper #125, Lincoln #339.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 20082025

    Cooper held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Lincoln in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Cooper #142 in 2018, Lincoln #305 in 2017.

    The order changed in 2013: Cooper moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #611 and #611; by 2013 that had become #265 and #534.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Cooper #198, Lincoln #432.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Cooper, Lincoln
FieldCooperLincoln
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningAn English occupational surname meaning 'barrel maker', from Middle English 'couper'.Not yet recorded
OriginEnglish (occupational surname)Not yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈkup.əɹ/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNew South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Cooper has a recorded origin (English (occupational surname)); Lincoln does not have one recorded yet.
  • Cooper and Lincoln both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Cooper; Lincoln doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Cooper

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1998–2025

    Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2009 (recorded 1998–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #19 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

Lincoln

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1996

    First recorded at #1168 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    England and Wales · Boys

  2. Highest recorded2007–2023

    Highest recorded position: #33 among boys in New Zealand, in 2021 (recorded 2007–2023).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys