Cooper vs Kai

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Cooper

Boy #50 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"From the Middle English 'couper' or Middle Low German 'kuper'; an occupational surname for a barrel maker"

Origin: English

Cultural Roots

English American Australian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#50
Total SSA Count
5,699
Syllables
2
Formality
Casual
Nicknames
Coop

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Cooper →

Kai

Boy #76 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"sea"

Origin: Hawaiian

Cultural Roots

Hawaiian Scandinavian Japanese American Chinese

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#76
Total SSA Count
4,276
Syllables
1
Formality
Casual

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Kai →

Popularity Comparison

Cooper Rank #50
Kai Rank #76

Cooper is more popular, ranked #50 vs #76 for Kai.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Cooper ___

  • Cooper James
  • Cooper Lee
  • Cooper Reid
  • Cooper Scott
  • Cooper Blake
  • Cooper Hayes

Kai ___

  • Kai James
  • Kai Alexander
  • Kai Michael
  • Kai Robert
  • Kai William
  • Kai Thomas

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Cooper

Mason Carter Hudson Harper Avery

If you choose Kai

Zara Nova Mila Leo Finn

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cooper or Kai more popular?

Cooper is more popular, ranked #50 compared to Kai at #76 in the United States.

What do Cooper and Kai mean?

Cooper means "From the Middle English 'couper' or Middle Low German 'kuper'; an occupational surname for a barrel maker" (English origin). Kai means "sea" (Hawaiian origin).

Are Cooper and Kai boy or girl names?

Cooper is primarily a boy name. Kai is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

Kai vs Cooper Cooper vs River Cooper vs Xander Cooper vs Mateo Cooper vs Antonio
← Full profile: Cooper ← Full profile: Kai Browse all baby names