Shepard
Every Shepard since 1912 — 3,719 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Shepard
Shepard is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #892 in 2025 with 268 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1912, 3,719 American babies have been named Shepard. Its peak came in 2025, when 268 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Shepard stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Shepard year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 268 | #892 |
| 2024 | — | — | 244 | #945 |
| 2023 | — | — | 238 | #950 |
| 2022 | — | — | 253 | #918 |
| 2021 | — | — | 233 | #965 |
| 2020 | — | — | 243 | #921 |
| 2019 | — | — | 202 | #1,032 |
| 2018 | — | — | 215 | #967 |
| 2017 | — | — | 228 | #926 |
| 2016 | — | — | 190 | #1,044 |
| 2015 | — | — | 116 | #1,459 |
| 2014 | — | — | 80 | #1,854 |
| 2013 | 5 | #18,879 | 59 | #2,221 |
| 2012 | — | — | 65 | #2,101 |
| 2011 | — | — | 57 | #2,282 |
| 2010 | — | — | 64 | #2,117 |
| 2009 | — | — | 67 | #2,071 |
| 2008 | — | — | 60 | #2,232 |
| 2007 | — | — | 31 | #3,497 |
| 2006 | — | — | 44 | #2,690 |
| 2005 | — | — | 31 | #3,307 |
| 2004 | — | — | 20 | #4,388 |
| 2003 | — | — | 37 | #2,720 |
| 2002 | — | — | 15 | #5,098 |
| 2001 | — | — | 15 | #5,095 |
| 2000 | — | — | 6 | #10,158 |
| 1995 | — | — | 5 | #10,094 |
| 1990 | — | — | 5 | #9,302 |
| 1985 | — | — | 7 | #5,677 |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | 5 | #6,207 |
| 1970 | — | — | 5 | #5,337 |
| 1965 | — | — | 9 | #2,955 |
| 1960 | — | — | 9 | #3,043 |
| 1955 | — | — | 10 | #2,731 |
| 1950 | — | — | 7 | #3,279 |
| 1945 | — | — | 6 | #3,284 |
| 1940 | — | — | 19 | #1,618 |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | 14 | #2,159 |
| 1925 | — | — | 13 | #2,416 |
| 1920 | — | — | 15 | #2,211 |
| 1915 | — | — | 12 | #2,287 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Shepard
- Shepard Fairey Painter · b. 1970
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Shepard in 2025?
Shepard ranked #892 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 268 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Shepard?
3,719 babies have been named Shepard in the United States since 1912, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Shepard most popular?
Shepard peaked in 2025, when 268 newborns received the name.
Is Shepard a boy or girl name?
Shepard is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Shepard rising or falling?
Shepard is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Shepard?
Well-known people named Shepard include Shepard Fairey (painter).