Find out how popular the first name Shepherd has been for the last 49 years (from 1975 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Shepherd by gender

Based on the last 49 years of data, Shepherd is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Shepherd being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 779 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Shepherd.

The history of the first name Shepherd

The name Shepherd has its roots in the Old English word "sceaphierde," which literally translates to "sheep herder." This occupation became a common surname in medieval England, and eventually evolved into a given name as well. The name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon words "sceap" meaning sheep and "hierde" meaning herd or guardian.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shepherd can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The book lists several individuals with the surname Shepherd, indicating that it was already in use as an occupational surname at that time.

The name Shepherd has a strong biblical connection as well. In the Bible, the occupation of a shepherd is often used as a metaphor for spiritual leadership and guidance. The most famous example is Jesus Christ, who is referred to as the "Good Shepherd" in the Gospel of John.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Shepherd. One of the earliest was Shepherd of Hermas, a Christian author who lived in Rome in the late 1st or early 2nd century AD. His work, known as "The Shepherd of Hermas," is considered an important early Christian text.

Another prominent figure was Shepherd Knapp, an American educator and author who lived from 1784 to 1838. He was the co-founder of the American Lyceum movement, which aimed to promote adult education and intellectual discourse.

In the realm of literature, Shepherd Stevens (1792-1856) was an American poet and writer who is best known for his work "The Ludlow Massacre," which documented a violent event during the Colorado coal strike of 1914.

In the world of sports, Shepherd Siegel (1919-1998) was an American basketball player who played for the Boston Celtics in the 1940s and was later inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Finally, Shepherd Munden (1942-2019) was a British actor and director who had a successful career in both film and television, appearing in popular shows like "Doctor Who" and "Sherlock Holmes."

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Shepherd was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Shepherd, please contact us.

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