Shepherd Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Shepherd is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Shepherd?
Shepherd is spelled S-H-E-P-H-E-R-D. The name has 8 letters.
Shepherd at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- The name “Shepherd” literally means a person who herds and tends sheep.
- Origin
- The surname “Shepherd” derives from the Old English word “sceaphierde,” meaning one who tends sheep.
- Pronunciation
- SHEP-erd · 2 syllables
Shepherd Popularity in 2025
Rank#10,917
Recorded Births8
Rank#246
Recorded Births1,408
- Girls usage fell 1,361 places to #10,917 and recorded 2 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 64 places to #246 and recorded 309 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Shepherd Mean?
The name “Shepherd” literally means a person who herds and tends sheep.
Origin: The surname “Shepherd” derives from the Old English word “sceaphierde,” meaning one who tends sheep.
How Do You Pronounce Shepherd?
PronunciationSHEP-erd
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Shepherd?
- History
- “Shepherd” originated as an occupational surname for individuals who herded sheep in medieval England.
Shepherd Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2006 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 8 | #10,917 |
| 2025 | Boys | 1,408 | #246 |
| 2024 | Girls | 10 | #9,556 |
| 2024 | Boys | 1,099 | #310 |
| 2023 | Boys | 789 | #405 |
| 2022 | Girls | 7 | #12,243 |
| 2022 | Boys | 619 | #491 |
| 2021 | Boys | 558 | #526 |
| 2020 | Boys | 463 | #594 |
| 2019 | Boys | 434 | #624 |
| 2018 | Boys | 339 | #716 |
| 2017 | Boys | 293 | #790 |
| 2016 | Boys | 265 | #847 |
| 2015 | Boys | 174 | #1,105 |
| 2014 | Boys | 164 | #1,153 |
| 2013 | Boys | 93 | #1,636 |
| 2012 | Boys | 102 | #1,551 |
| 2011 | Girls | 5 | #16,764 |
| 2011 | Boys | 103 | #1,533 |
| 2010 | Boys | 102 | #1,558 |
| 2009 | Boys | 70 | #1,990 |
| 2008 | Boys | 65 | #2,104 |
| 2007 | Boys | 34 | #3,250 |
| 2006 | Boys | 39 | #2,881 |
When Was Shepherd Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2025 · Boys
1,408 recorded births
National rank #246
2024 · Boys
1,099 recorded births
National rank #310
2023 · Boys
789 recorded births
National rank #405
2022 · Boys
619 recorded births
National rank #491
Where Shepherd Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| TN | #88 | 95 |
| OK | #91 | 46 |
| KY | #98 | 54 |
| AR | #104 | 32 |
| AL | #108 | 48 |
| NC | #134 | 92 |
| GA | #136 | 88 |
| SC | #143 | 39 |