Meaning and history
Shepherd is an English given name transferred from an occupational surname for someone who tended sheep. The word comes from Old English sceaphierde, combining “sheep” and “herder” or “guardian.” The occupation has rich biblical symbolism: kings and religious leaders are described as shepherds, and Jesus is called the Good Shepherd in the New Testament. Notable bearers include Malawian religious leader Shepherd Bushiri and American actor Shepherd Stevenson.
20062006: 39 births, rank #2,881
2007: 34 births, rank #3,250
2008: 65 births, rank #2,104
2009: 70 births, rank #1,990
2010: 102 births, rank #1,558
20112011: 103 births, rank #1,533
2012: 102 births, rank #1,551
2013: 93 births, rank #1,636
2014: 164 births, rank #1,153
2015: 174 births, rank #1,105
20162016: 265 births, rank #847
2017: 293 births, rank #790
2018: 339 births, rank #716
2019: 434 births, rank #624
2020: 463 births, rank #594
20212021: 558 births, rank #526
2022: 619 births, rank #491
2023: 789 births, rank #405
2024: 1,099 births, rank #310
20252025: 1,408 births, rank #246
Shepherd rose from #311 to #246 for boys between 2024 and 2025. That year also produced its highest recorded birth count, at 1,408.