Cooper vs Nelson

Cooper and Nelsoncompared 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.

England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Cooper was ranked #139 and Nelson #1402 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Cooper was ranked #175 and Nelson #710 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Cooper and Nelson over time

Cooper and Nelson appear together in 1 published list, across 27 years of shared records. Cooper held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Nelson in 0.

The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Nelson reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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.

Mirrored each other
Over 27 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Cooper rose about as far as Nelson fell — from #2022 and #589 in 1997 to #139 and #1402 in 2024.

List by list

England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Cooper held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Nelson in 5.
Highest recorded here: Cooper #134 in 2019, Nelson #589 in 1997.
The order changed in 2004: Cooper moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #1248 and #1132; by 2004 that had become #731 and #1222.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cooper #139, Nelson #1402.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Cooper

Pairs where Cooper shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Cooper vs Max
Cooper and Max changed places 12 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1998 and 2025, ending at #19 and #30.
Cooper · Max · 28 shared years, 1998–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
See the 2025 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Liam vs Cooper
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Liam #1 in 2010, Cooper #12 in 2012.
Liam · Cooper · 18 shared years, 2006–2023 · Peaked in the same years
See the 2012 New Zealand ranking
Oliver vs Cooper
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Oliver #1 in 2013, Cooper #12 in 2012.
Oliver · Cooper · 18 shared years, 2006–2023 · Peaked in the same years
See the 2013 New Zealand ranking
William vs Cooper
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — William #1 in 2009, Cooper #4 in 2009.
William · Cooper · 28 shared years, 1998–2025 · Peaked in the same years
See the 2009 New South Wales, Australia ranking

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Cooper, Nelson
Field	Cooper	Nelson
Record type	Editorially researched profile	Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usage	male	male
Meaning	An English occupational surname meaning 'barrel maker', from Middle English 'couper'.	Not yet recorded
Origin	English (occupational surname)	Not yet recorded
Pronunciation	/ˈkup.əɹ/	Not yet recorded
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	GB-ENW, IE
Most recent popularity observation	New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025)	England and Wales · Boys #1402 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)	90/100	Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)	88/100	88/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)	100/100	60/100
Data Confidence	medium	medium

What the data shows

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

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

Nelson

Popularity journey

First recorded1996
First recorded at #853 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
Highest recorded2003–2017
Highest recorded position: #375 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2003 (recorded 2003–2017).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1402 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys