Sheppard
Meaningshepherd · English
- US rank
- #3,036
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #909 in 1880
40 babies were named Sheppard in the US in 2025. It has climbed 1,239 places in five years.
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US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Sheppard you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 42,735 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Sheppard, 40 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Sheppard would very likely be the only one.
- HistorySheppard has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Sheppards, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1880, when it ranked #909. Today it's #3,036, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowSheppard is 9.4× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 400,000 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 42,735.
- TrendSheppard has climbed 1,239 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #3,036. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- MeaningIn English, Sheppard means “shepherd”.
About the name Sheppard
Sheppard is a boy name of English origin meaning “shepherd”. It has 8 letters and 2 syllables, starting with S and ending in “-ard”. US birth records list Sheppard for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 67 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked #909 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #3,036, with 40 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 4.5 | 220,751 boys |
| 1910s | 4.0 | 246,914 boys |
| 1920s | 4.6 | 217,391 boys |
| 1930s | 2.8 | 352,113 boys |
| 1940s | 2.6 | 387,597 boys |
| 1950s | 3.7 | 271,739 boys |
| 1960s | 1.3 | 763,359 boys |
| 1970s | 1.5 | 675,676 boys |
| 1980s | 0.3 | 3,703,704 boys |
| 1990s | 0.3 | 3,125,000 boys |
| 2000s | 3.0 | 335,570 boys |
| 2010s | 8.8 | 113,507 boys |
| 2020s | 19 | 53,097 boys |
Other spellings of Sheppard
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Sheppard
What does the name Sheppard mean?
Sheppard means “shepherd” in English.
What is the origin of the name Sheppard?
Sheppard has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Sheppard a boy or girl name?
Sheppard is a boy name.
How popular is the name Sheppard?
Sheppard ranked #3,036 for US boys in 2025, given to 40 babies. Its best year was 1880 (#909).