Boy name · English
Shepherd
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: from a surname meaning sheep herderShepherd is a boy's name that comes from an English surname meaning "sheep herder". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- From a surname meaning sheep herder
- Origin
- English
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #246 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Shepherd
As a boy's name, Shepherd comes from an English surname meaning "sheep herder". It is used in English.
Shepherd is also a surname: the 552nd most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 59,896 people. See the most common last names.
Meaning checked against Behind the Name. How we research names
How popular is Shepherd?
- US rank in 2025
- #246
- 1,408 babies, 824 per million boys
- Best rank
- #246 in 2025
- 1,408 babies that year
- Babies since 1886
- At least 7,785
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 15 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 9 per million |
| 1920s | 8 per million |
| 1930s | 2 per million |
| 1940s | 4 per million |
| 1950s | 3 per million |
| 1960s | 3 per million |
| 1970s | 3 per million |
| 1980s | 1 per million |
| 1990s | 3 per million |
| 2000s | 14 per million |
| 2010s | 110 per million |
| 2020s | 476 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #848 | #791 | #716 | #625 | #595 | #528 | #494 | #405 | #311 | #246 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names with a similar meaning
- MiriamForm of Mary, meaning uncertain; perhaps Egyptian beloved (Hebrew, girl)
- AaronProbably Egyptian, meaning unknown; Hebrew theories say exalted (Hebrew, boy)
- AlanMeaning uncertain; perhaps little rock, or from the Alans (Brythonic, boy)
- RachelEwe, female sheep (Hebrew, girl)
- AthenaMeaning unknown; the Greek goddess of wisdom (Greek, girl)
- DeclanMeaning unknown, though likely begins with Old Irish dag, good (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- EvelynFrom a surname derived from the given name Aveline (English, girl)
- GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
- JacksonFrom a surname meaning son of Jack (English, boy)
- KennedyFrom an Irish surname, from Cennétig, armoured or misshapen head (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- MariaGreek and Latin form of Miriam, of uncertain meaning (Hebrew, girl)
- NayeliPossibly from Zapotec words meaning I love you or open (Zapotec, girl)
- NolanFrom an Irish surname derived from nuall, famous, loud (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- RaquelEwe, female sheep (Hebrew, girl)
- XimenaFeminine of Ximeno, a medieval Spanish name of uncertain meaning (Spanish, girl)
Middle names for Shepherd
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from English
- AinsleyFrom a place named for a solitary or hermitage clearing (English, unisex)
- ArmstrongStrong in the arm (English, boy)
- ScottFrom Scotland (English, boy)
- AceFrom the English word ace, highest rank (English, boy)
- AdairFrom a surname derived from Edgar (English, unisex)
- AndersonSon of Andrew (English, boy)
- ArloMeaning uncertain; perhaps from Spenser's Arlo Hill (English, boy)
- AyrtonSettlement on the River Aire (English, boy)
- BayA sheltered curve of coast (English, unisex)
- BensonFrom a surname meaning son of Benedict (English, boy)
- BrysonFrom a surname meaning son of Brice (English, boy)
- CarterCart driver (English, boy)
- CedarFragrant evergreen tree (English, boy)
- ColterFrom a surname for a keeper of horses (English, boy)
- CooperBarrel maker (English, boy)
- CrewFrom the English word crew, a group of people (English, boy)
- DawsonSon of David (English, boy)
- EllisonSon of Ellis (English, unisex)
Shepherd: common questions
What does the name Shepherd mean?
Shepherd comes from an English surname meaning "sheep herder". Checked against Behind the Name.
Is Shepherd a boy or girl name?
Shepherd is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 8 girls and 1,408 boys in the US were named Shepherd, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Shepherd come from?
Shepherd comes from an English surname meaning "sheep herder". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Shepherd?
Shepherd ranked #246 in the US in 2025, with 1,408 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What middle names go with Shepherd?
Middle names that flow well with Shepherd include Abel, Asher, Beau, Chase and Ford. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.