Boy · Old English (occupational surname) · International
Shepherd
ShepherdSay it SHEP-erd
- Meaning today
- Sheep herder, shepherd
- Original meaning
- "a sheep herder; Old English sceaphierde" Online Etymology Dictionary, s.v. shepherd
- Say it
- SHEP-erd
- Other spellings
- Shepard
Shepherd
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Shepherd meaning
Shepherd is an international boy's name of Old English origin (occupational surname).
A sheep herder; Old English sceaphierde
Also used to mean: shepherd
Shepherd began as an English surname for a family who looked after sheep. The Online Etymology Dictionary traces the word to Old English sceaphierde, joining sceap, "sheep", and hierde, "herder", from heord, "a herd". The word carries deep meaning for Christians, from Psalm 23, "The Lord is my shepherd", to Jesus calling himself the good shepherd in the Gospel of John. Indian parents may also think of Krishna, the cowherd of Vrindavan. As a first name it sounds gentle and protective. It is said SHEP-erd.
Source: Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com), s.v. shepherd · entry shepherd · See the entry · checked 27 Oct 2026
References: Online Etymology Dictionary, shepherd · Bible Hub, Psalm 23:1 · Bible Hub, John 10:11
Popularity abroad
- #246 United States, boys 2025 (up 65 from 311 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Shepherd · Shepard