Cooper vs Theodore
Cooper and Theodorecompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Cooper was ranked #19 and Theodore #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Cooper was ranked #21 and Theodore #6 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Cooper was ranked #139 and Theodore #8 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Cooper was ranked #125 and Theodore #32 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Cooper was ranked #121 and Theodore #36 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Cooper was ranked #198 and Theodore #44 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Cooper and Theodore over time
Cooper and Theodore appear together in 5 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Theodore held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Cooper in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Cooper reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Theodore 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2018, Theodore moved ahead of Cooper in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #31 and #37 the year before became #29 and #23.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Cooper and Theodore changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 2008 and 2025, ending at #198 and #44.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Cooper #12 in 2020, Theodore #6 in 2022.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Cooper held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Theodore in 27.
Highest recorded here: Cooper #134 in 2019, Theodore #8 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cooper #139, Theodore #8.
Republic of Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 2008–2025
Cooper held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Theodore in 12.
Highest recorded here: Cooper #142 in 2018, Theodore #44 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Cooper #198, Theodore #44.
Northern Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 2009–2024
Cooper held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Theodore in 7.
Highest recorded here: Cooper #120 in 2017, Theodore #32 in 2024.
The order changed in 2017: Theodore moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #127 and #166; by 2017 that had become #120 and #105.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cooper #125, Theodore #32.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys11 shared years, 2015–2025
Cooper held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Theodore in 8.
Highest recorded here: Cooper #18 in 2015, Theodore #3 in 2024.
The order changed in 2018: Theodore moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #31 and #37; by 2018 that had become #29 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Cooper #19, Theodore #3.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 2013–2023
Cooper held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Theodore in 4.
Highest recorded here: Cooper #12 in 2020, Theodore #6 in 2022.
The order changed in 2021: Theodore moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #12 and #15; by 2021 that had become #30 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Cooper #21, Theodore #6.
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 | Theodore |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | An English occupational surname meaning 'barrel maker', from Middle English 'couper'. | Gift of God. |
| Origin | English (occupational surname) | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkup.əɹ/ | /ˈθiəˌdɔɹ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Teddy |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Cooper is recorded with a English (occupational surname) origin, while Theodore is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Cooper has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Theodore.
- Cooper's recorded meaning differs from Theodore's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Cooper a "medium" Data Confidence level and Theodore a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Theodore
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #214 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2015–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2024 (recorded 2015–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys