Shepard Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SHEP-erd //ˈʃɛp.ərd//
Origin: English; Old English
Meaning: English: shepherd; Old English: one who herds sheep
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Shepard has its roots in the Old English word "sceaphierde," which is a compound of "sceap," meaning "sheep," and "hierde," meaning "herder" or "guardian." This term evolved through Middle English as "shepherd" before being adapted into the modern spelling "Shepard." The transition into English occurred during the early medieval period, reflecting the agrarian society of the time where sheep herding was a common occupation. The name is thus etymologically linked to the profession of tending to sheep, which was vital for sustenance and economy in early English communities.
Historically, the name Shepard has been borne by various notable figures, including saints and religious leaders. One significant reference is Saint Aidan, an early Christian missionary in the 7th century, who was known for his pastoral care, embodying the shepherd metaphor in a spiritual context.
The name also appears in literary works and historical texts, often symbolizing guidance and protection, resonating with the biblical imagery of Christ as the Good Shepherd, which has been a central theme in Christian theology since the early centuries of the faith. Culturally, the name Shepard carries connotations of leadership, care, and responsibility, reflecting the qualities associated with a shepherd's role.
It has been used in various forms across different cultures, with diminutive or variant forms such as "Shep" emerging in informal contexts. The enduring nature of the name can be attributed to its deep-rooted associations with pastoral life and its symbolic representation of guidance and nurturing, which have remained relevant throughout history.
Famous people named Shepard
In this section, you will find notable people named Shepard. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Shepard who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Shepard who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Shepard Fairey is an artist and graphic designer best known for the Obey Giant campaign, the Barack Obama Hope poster, and his work in street art.
Shepard Smith is a journalist and television news anchor best known for his work on Fox News and CNBC.
Shepard S. Rogers is a notable figure in the field of American literature and is recognized for his contributions to literary criticism.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Shepard, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Shepard. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Shepard was first seen in the United States in 1912.
Shepard has ranked as high as #1835 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Shepard has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Shepard is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Shepard was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Shepard.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 268 | 268 | 0 |
| 2024 | 244 | 244 | 0 |
| 2023 | 238 | 238 | 0 |
| 2022 | 253 | 253 | 0 |
| 2021 | 233 | 233 | 0 |
| 2020 | 243 | 243 | 0 |
| 2019 | 202 | 202 | 0 |
| 2018 | 215 | 215 | 0 |
| 2017 | 228 | 228 | 0 |
| 2016 | 190 | 190 | 0 |
| 2015 | 116 | 116 | 0 |
| 2014 | 80 | 80 | 0 |
| 2013 | 64 | 59 | 5 |
| 2012 | 65 | 65 | 0 |
| 2011 | 57 | 57 | 0 |
| 2010 | 64 | 64 | 0 |
| 2009 | 67 | 67 | 0 |
| 2008 | 60 | 60 | 0 |
| 2007 | 31 | 31 | 0 |
| 2006 | 44 | 44 | 0 |
| 2005 | 31 | 31 | 0 |
| 2004 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 2003 | 37 | 37 | 0 |
| 2002 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 2001 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 2000 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1999 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1998 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1997 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1996 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1995 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1994 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1990 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1989 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1985 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1983 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1982 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1981 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1979 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1977 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1976 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1975 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1973 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1972 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1970 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1969 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1966 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1965 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1964 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1962 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1961 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1960 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1959 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1958 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1957 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1956 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1955 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1954 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1953 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1952 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1951 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1950 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1949 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1948 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1947 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1946 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1945 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1944 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1943 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1942 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1941 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1940 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1939 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1938 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1937 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1936 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1934 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1932 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1931 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1930 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1929 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1928 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1927 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1926 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1925 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1924 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1923 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1922 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1921 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1920 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1919 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1918 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1917 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1915 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1914 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1912 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
Top States for Shepard (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 35 | |
| FL | 14 | |
| NC | 12 | |
| VA | 12 | |
| AL | 11 | |
| MS | 11 | |
| TN | 10 | |
| GA | 9 | |
| SC | 9 | |
| CA | 9 | |
| IN | 8 | |
| LA | 8 | |
| IL | 7 | |
| OH | 7 | |
| KY | 6 | |
| NY | 5 | |
| PA | 5 | |
| MA | 5 | |
| MO | 5 |