Cooper, a surname-turned-given-name, is derived from the Middle English word couper, meaning "barrel maker." It was originally an occupational name given to someone who makes barrels, but gained popularity as a given name in the 1980s. Cooper has now been a top-100 boy's name every year since 2007, according to the Social Security Administration, and is quickly approaching the top-50. It's the name "Empire" star Gabourey Sidibe gave her son, born in April 2024, and the name "Love Island" star Kendall Rae Knight gave her son, Cooper Cole, born in March 2024.
