Shepherd
Top 1000
About Shepherd
Shepherd is an occupational surname with a pleasant, pastoral feel, an outdoorsy vibe, a gentle sound and a cool, contemporary energy. The name has been rising steadily in the US since the mid-2000s, but it didn't break in to the Top 1000 until 2016. Since then, it has become a fresh but familiar choice, ranking in the Top 350 in a recent year.
Used to describe a sheep herder, this name was chosen by Jerry Seinfelds and his wife Jessica back in 2005, likely inspiring other parents to consider it. More recently, it was chosen by actors Genevieve and Jared Padalecki for their son in 2013, which coincides with the time it really started to pick up pace as a name option.
Shepherd has spiritual undertones, links with Christmas, and an air of wisdom about it, however it doesn't feel too much. Its sounds and rustic feel keep it grounded.
. There are other spelling choices: Shepard, Sheperd, and Sheppard--all of which lead to the friendly nickname Shep. Artist Shepard Fairey (original first name Frank) gained a lot of attention for his Obama HOPE poster.
The various spellings are additionally reflected in the surnames of astronaut Alan Shepard, "Winnie the Pooh" illustrator Ernest Shepard, actor/playwright Sam Shepard, "A Christmas Story" writer Jean Shepherd, Fox News anchor Shepard Smith, and actress Cybill Shepherd.
As of October 2026, Shepherd ranked #246 in US births in 2025 SSA, Nameberry popularity #207.
Editor's take: The name Shepherd is a boy's name of English origin meaning "sheep herder".
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #1,157 | 164 | 85.4 |
| 2015 | #1,108 | 174 | 90.8 |
| 2016 | #848 | 265 | 139.6 |
| 2017 | #791 | 293 | 158.3 |
| 2018 | #716 | 339 | 186.7 |
| 2019 | #625 | 434 | 241.9 |
| 2020 | #594 | 463 | 268.2 |
| 2021 | #528 | 557 | 318.4 |
| 2022 | #494 | 618 | 354 |
| 2023 | #404 | 789 | 461.2 |
| 2024 | #311 | 1,094 | 635 |
| 2025 | #246 | 1,408 | 824.3 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Shepherd.
Famous Shepherds
- Shepherd Leffler
original U.S. Congressman from Iowa
- Shepherd Walton Clark
American figure skater
- Shepherd Kellen Seinfeld (b. 2005)
son of actor/comedian Jerry Seinfeld
- Shepherd McLaughlin (b. 2009)
son of YouTuber James McLaughlin of duo Rhett and Link
- Shepherd Harrison
Clarke (b. 2013), son of YouTuber Matthew Clarke of "Conversations with my 2,year,old"
- Shepherd Mora (b. 2015)
son of singer Kelis and Mike Mora
- John Ira Shepherd Hanson (b. 2008)
son of musician Zac Hanson
- Austin (Shepherd) Padalecki (b. 2013)
son of actors Jared and Genevieve Padalecki
Shepherd in pop culture
- General Shepherd
main antagonist in "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2"
- Dr. Derek Shepherd
a main character in the TV show "Grey's Anatomy"
- Dr. Amelia Shepherd
a main character in the TV show "Grey's Anatomy"
- Derrial Book (called Shepherd Book)
pastor in "Firefly" and its sequel movie, "Serenity"
- Jon Shepherd
character on "Stargate Atlantis"
- Jason Shepherd
character in "Big Fat Liar"
- shepherd's pie
or cottage pie, a meat pie with a crust of mashed potatoes
- Gwyneth Shepherd
main protagonist in Kerstin Gier's "Ruby Red Trilogy"
- John/Jane Shepherd
the default names of the player decided gender main character of the popular sci,fi game series "Mass Effect"