Shepherd Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Shepherd has its roots in Old English, meaning 'one who herds sheep'. It evolved from 'sceaphierde' to 'shepherde' and finally to its modern form. The name reflects traits of care and guidance. It does not have biblical relevance but gained popularity in medieval England as a surname for those in the sheep herding profession.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Shepherd"
Pronunciation
/ˈʃɛpərd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Shepherd originates from the Old English word 'sceaphierde', which means 'one who herds sheep'. It is derived from 'sceap' (sheep) and 'hierde' (herder).
Meaning
one who herds sheep
Language Evolution
Old English: sceaphierde, Middle English: shepherde, Modern English: shepherd
Historical Usage
The name Shepherd gained popularity in medieval England as a surname for those engaged in sheep herding, which was a common occupation at the time.
Variants & Derivatives
Shep, Shepherdess, Shepards
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Shepherd is often seen as a pastoral and nurturing name, evoking images of care and guidance, particularly in Christian contexts.
Famous People
Shepherd Fairey, an American contemporary street artist, Shepherd Smith, a television news anchor, Shepherd Book, a fictional character from the TV series Firefly
📊 Shepherd Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Shepherd Name Visualizations
✨ Shepherd Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 1,104 peak births in 2024
Geographic Spread
Popular across 39 US states, with strongest presence in Tennessee
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 9 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Shepherd"
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 "Shepherd"
"Shepherd" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2777th of 7545 | 142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 3882nd of 6773 | 62 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 3287th of 7552 | 118 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 4589th of 10718 | 81 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 9016th of 16616 | 43 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2740th of 24088 | 625 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 626th of 23106 | 5,283 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 35406th of 35406 | 5 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 22546th of 30306 | 17 |
Regional Popularity of "Shepherd" by Generation for Male 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) |
- | - |
27.01% 1975th/7313 |
41.46% 3094th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
17.49% 697th/3984 |
26.79% 1202nd/4487 |
6.64% 453rd/6822 |
12.86% 807th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Shepherd" 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 "Shepherd"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Shepherd" 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.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Shepherd" in the United States
The name Shepherd 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 gaining 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, Shepherd has been too falling for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, too falling 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, 'Shepherd' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2777th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 3882nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3287th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4589th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 9016th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2740th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 626th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 35406th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 22546th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Shepherd' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.