Shepard

Shepard - A very unique male name

Shepard appeared on the charts for the first time in 1918 on position #1589. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Shepard and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Shepard? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Shepard. The baby boy name Shepard was given to 217 baby boys in 2025, ranking #904 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 6,757 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Shepard peaked in popularity 1 years ago in 2025 on position 904.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Shepard, 1-5?

Shepard is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Shepard is currently topping the baby name charts in Oklahoma at position #326 - and is the least popular in New York at position #1,545.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Shepard is where you live.

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Shepard origin and meaning

English surname — variant of Shepherd

Transferred surname, a spelling of Shepherd, the occupational name for a keeper of sheep

Shepard is Shepherd respelled as a surname — some families dropped the h centuries ago — and carried into first-name use from surnames like astronaut Alan Shepard's. It has been recorded sporadically since 1918 and is at its peak in 2025. The spelling without the second h is the established family-name form, not a modern invention.

Attested etymology

Shepard is a 7 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Shepard, pop culture references for the name Shepard and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Shepard

We've found the following names that sound similar to Shepard, sorted by popularity.

Shepherd / Sigifredo / Sigfredo / Sebert / Sheppard / Siegfried / Shuford / Saford /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Shepard

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Shepard a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Shepard?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

SHEP-erd · /ˈʃɛpərd/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Shepherd — The fuller spelling — a separate, more common name in the data
• Sheppard — Another surname spelling of the same name

Nicknames: Shep

Famous bearers

• Shepard Fairey — American street artist and founder of the OBEY campaign, born Frank Shepard Fairey (b. 1970) Contemporary

Style

SurnameOccupational

Why parents choose it

Parents choose the Shepard spelling for its surname crispness — pastoral meaning, tailored look.

Worth knowing

• Shepherd, Shepard, and Sheppard will be interchanged constantly — the missing h always needs flagging.