Shepard Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Shepard originates from Old English, meaning 'sheep herder.' It has evolved from 'sceaphierde' to 'schepherde' and finally to its modern form. The name reflects traits of guidance and care, although it does not have biblical relevance. It gained popularity primarily as a surname in medieval England and has been used as a given name since the 19th century. Variants include Shepherd and Sheppard. Today, it is perceived as a traditional name associated with pastoral imagery, with notable figures contributing to its contemporary recognition.
The name Shepard is most popular in Tennessee, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Shepard has been stalled for male in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Shepard' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2508th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2597th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2710th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 5127th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 8429th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3076th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1069th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 30306th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Shepard' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Shepard"
Pronunciation
/ˈʃɛpərd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Shepard is derived from the Old English word 'sceaphierde,' which means 'sheep herder.' It was originally used as a surname for someone who tended sheep.
Meaning
sheep herder
Language Evolution
Old English: sceaphierde, Middle English: schepherde, Modern English: Shepard
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity as a surname in medieval England and has been used as a given name since the 19th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Shepherd, Sheppard, Shep
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Shepard is seen as a traditional and strong name, often associated with care and guidance, reflecting its pastoral roots.
Famous People
Shepard Fairey, an American street artist and graphic designer, Shepard Smith, an American television journalist
Explore More Shepard Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Shepard"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Shepard"
"Shepard" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2508th of 7545 | 169 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2597th of 6773 | 159 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2710th of 7552 | 174 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 5127th of 10718 | 63 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 8429th of 16616 | 51 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 3076th of 24088 | 529 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1069th of 23106 | 2,300 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 30306th of 30306 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Shepard" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
74.33% 1025th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
78.86% 1227th/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
67.94% 1651st/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
71.85% 3292nd/4582 |
71.90% 3713th/5164 |
40.95% 2995th/7313 |
39.96% 2982nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
32.93% 1312th/3984 |
38.04% 1707th/4487 |
12.40% 846th/6822 |
20.81% 1306th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Shepard" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Shepard"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Shepard" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.