Shepherd is an English occupational name with a pretty obvious meaning, and since about 2016, it's been a name on the rise for baby boys in the United States. In the past, it's mostly been a surname, but that is changing. Some of it could have to do with the fact that several celebrities have chosen the name for their own sons in recent years. Or it could have something to do with the fact that turning surnames into given names is a huge trend right now.

Meaning of the name Shepherd:

English: Sheep herder

Origin of the name Shepherd:

Shepherd is an occupational name for someone who herds sheep.

Symbolism of the name Shepherd:

Of course, many people associate the baby name Shepherd with the occupation of shepherding. In literature, shepherds are often associated with nature, innocence and harmony. In Christianity, God and Jesus are often referred to as shepherds. Shepherds also play a significant role in the Christmas story, so a new parent may choose the name for a baby born around the holiday.

Baby name Shepherd

Style of the name Shepherd:

Traditional

Gender of the name Shepherd:

Shepherd is a boy's baby name.

Pronunciation of the name Shepherd:

SHEH-perd

Number of syllables in the name Shepherd:

Two

Emotion evoked from the name Shepherd:

The baby name Shepherd evokes images of someone who is quiet and enjoys peace.

Alternative spellings for the name Shepherd:

  • Shepard
  • Sheppard
  • Sheppherd

Nicknames for the name Shepherd:

  • Shep
  • Shepp

Popularity of the name Shepherd:

Shepherd has been a top 1,000 baby name for boys in the United States since 2016. It last ranked at number 605 in 2020.

Related names for the name Shepherd:

Great middle names for Shepherd and their meanings:

Famous people with the name Shepherd:

Shepherds in popular culture:

  • General(character in the video game “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2”)
  • Shepherd(character on the TV show “Firefly” and in the movie “Serenity”)