This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance
- Meaning
- One who tends and guards sheep
- Origin
- English (occupational)
- Gender
- Neutral
- Pronunciation
- SHEP-erd
Shepherd is an English occupational name that literally means one who tends and guards sheep. It's pronounced SHEP-erd, and it's a gender-neutral pick with a timeless, classic feel. If you like names with a clear, literal job-title root, this is a straightforward one to consider.
Meaning & Origin of Shepherd
Meaning: One who tends and guards sheep.
Origin: English (occupational).
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Shepherd
SHEP-erdIPA /ˈʃɛpərd/
Popularity of Shepherd
Shepherd ranked #311 on the Social Security list in 2024, with 1,094 babies given the name — and that same year is also its highest rank on record across Social Security data going back to 1886.
Names Like Shepherd
These names share Shepherd’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Shepherd mean?
One who tends and guards sheep. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Shepherd?
Shepherd is pronounced SHEP-erd (IPA: /ˈʃɛpərd/).
Is Shepherd a popular name right now?
Shepherd is at its highest recorded popularity right now, ranked #311 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1886–2024.)
Make Shepherd Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Shepherd, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Shepherd? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →

