Boy · #3,095 in 2026

Sheppard

Name: Popularity of the name Sheppard in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Sheppard, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Current Rank

#3,095

Peak Rank

#909 (2026)

Total Babies

754

5-Yr Trend

+41%

1880

First Year

2026

Last Year

2026

Peak Year

#909

Peak Rank

754

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Sheppard

Sheppard first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1880, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 40 Sheppards were born — ranking #3,095 that year. As of 2026, Sheppard ranks #3,095 for baby boys with 40 births, rising sharply (+41% over the past five years). In total, more than 754 Sheppards have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Sheppard

Phonetically similar names — useful when Sheppard is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Shepherd
Shepard
Sheperd
Shephard
Shepperd
Shepheard
Jeopard
Shared
Shepherds
Chippered
Leopard
Leppard

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sheppard

What does the name Sheppard mean?

Sheppard is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1880. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Sheppard in 2026?

In 2026, Sheppard ranks #3,095 among boys' names in the U.S., with 40 babies given the name that year.

When was Sheppard most popular?

Sheppard reached its peak popularity in 2026, ranking #909 that year with 40 babies given the name.

In which U.S. states is Sheppard most popular?

Sheppard has historically been most popular in New York, North Carolina, Texas. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Sheppard.

Is Sheppard a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Sheppard is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Sheppard?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Sheppard include Abbott, Hays, Jabez. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Sheppard

Sheppard is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 754 births in the dataset. Sheppard's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #909. Use the chart and map above to compare Sheppard's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.