boy's name
Kuiper
KY-per (English)
- Origin Dutch
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 6
- Popularity Rare
- Births on record 73
Kuiper is a rare boy's name from a Dutch surname meaning "cooper," a maker of barrels. It's the Dutch counterpart of the English Cooper, and it's best known from the Kuiper Belt, the ring of icy bodies beyond Neptune.
- Kuiper is a name of Dutch origin.
- Peaked in 2022, when 22 babies were given the name.
- It is a recent arrival in the birth records.
- Today about 1 in 663,130 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 2017.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Kuiper Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 2010s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 2010s | 22 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 51 |
What Kuiper Means
Kuiper means a cooper, a craftsman who made and repaired barrels. Modern parents may choose it for the astronomy link, with the occupational sense in the background.
Where Kuiper Comes From
Middle Dutch cupere came from kuip, a tub or vat, related to Latin cupa, a barrel, which also lies behind English cooper. Occupational surnames of this kind were common across northern Europe, and Kuiper and Kuyper are widespread in the Netherlands. Gerard Kuiper, a Dutch-American astronomer born in 1905, made the surname famous. His work on the outer solar system led to the Kuiper Belt being named after him. As a first name it appears in US birth records from 2017.
Kuiper in Use
Parents who find Cooper too common may like Kuiper for its science link. The usual English pronunciation is KY-per, which is close to the Dutch.
How Popular Is Kuiper?
In 2025, Kuiper was given to 5 babies in the United States. It is a rare choice.
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Kuiper
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Kuiper Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Kuiper over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Kuiper
- English KY-per
Kuiper in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
- Other forms
- Forms we hold no single language for — some are used across several, some are simply spelled differently.
- Cooper
Sibling Names for Kuiper
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Kuiper — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Kuiper
What does the name Kuiper mean?
A cooper, or barrel maker, in Dutch.
How do you pronounce Kuiper?
KY-per.
Who was Kuiper named after?
The surname is Dutch, and the Kuiper Belt honors astronomer Gerard Kuiper.
How popular is the name Kuiper?
In 2025, Kuiper was given to 5 babies in the United States. It is a rare choice.
Is Kuiper a girl's or a boy's name?
Kuiper is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Kuiper?
Kuiper has 2 syllables.
When was Kuiper most popular?
Kuiper peaked in 2022, when 22 babies were given the name. It is a recent arrival in the birth records.
Is Kuiper a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Kuiper currently ranks #15,307 in the United States. It is a recent arrival in the birth records. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.