kˈoʊplənd wʌz bˈɔːɹn ɪn ɹˈɪf dˈɪmæʃk nˌɪɹ dɐmˈæskəs, sˈɪɹiə, ðə sˈɛkənd ʌv fˈoːɹ tʃˈɪldɹən bˈɔːɹn tə sˌiːˌaɪˈeɪ ˈɑːfɪsɚ mˈaɪlz kˈoʊplənd, dʒˌeɪˈɑːɹ. ænd hɪz wˈaɪf ləɹˈeɪn kˈoʊplənd nˈeɪ ˈeɪdi, ɐn ˌɑːɹkiːˈɑːlədʒˌɪst.
Copeland was born in Rif Dimashq near Damascus, Syria, the second of four children born to CIA officer Miles Copeland, Jr. and his wife Lorraine Copeland (née Adie), an archaeologist.