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Shepherd

Quick answerThe name Shepherd derives from the Old English words "sceap" (sheep) and "hierde" (herder), literally meaning one who tends sheep, and was originally used as an occupational surname before becoming a given name.

English · Boy · 2 syllables

S
Top 500

Popularity & facts

Relative popularity index, 2010–2025
GenderBoy
US Rank#246
TrendRevival
Peak year2025
Syllables2
OriginEnglish
LanguageEnglish
CultureEnglish
ReligionChristian
Letters8
Numerology11 Chaldean 1
Global rank#246

Popularity over time

Popularity index
Hover the line to see any year. 100 = most popular.

Historical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data

About the name Shepherd

The name Shepherd derives from the Old English words "sceap" (sheep) and "hierde" (herder), literally meaning one who tends sheep, and was originally used as an occupational surname before becoming a given name.

Cross-referenced with Wikidata/Wikipedia. AI-assisted, community-reviewable. Suggest an improvement.

Etymology

The name Shepherd derives from the Old English words "sceap" (sheep) and "hierde" (herder), literally meaning one who tends sheep, and was originally used as an occupational surname before becoming a given name. It is primarily used in English-speaking cultures, particularly among Christian communities, with historical roots in medieval and early modern Britain where pastoral occupations were common.

Shepherd currently ranks #246 in the United States as a boy's name. It reached its peak popularity around 2025.

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