Shephard is an uncommon given name of English origin that has its roots in the Old Testament of the Bible. It comes from the Hebrew word "Shaphat," which means "judge." In the Bible, Shephard refers to several individuals who served as judges over their people, including Shephard the son of Laish, who was the ancestor of Dan, one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
The name Shephard is also associated with the profession of shepherding. The term "shepherd" originally referred to someone who cared for sheep and other livestock, but it has since evolved to mean a leader or guide who tends to their flock, whether that be in a religious context, as in the case of Jesus Christ being called the Good Shepherd, or in a more metaphorical sense, such as a political figure guiding their constituents.
The name Shephard has not been particularly popular throughout history. It was not included in the Social Security Administration's list of the top 1000 names for boys in any year between 1917 and 2016. However, it has been used sparingly throughout different periods of time, with its usage peaking in the United States during the 1970s.
In literature and popular culture, there are a few notable characters named Shephard. In the video game "Borderlands," for example, there is a character named Shephard "Shep" Snowball, who is a former military sniper turned bounty hunter. Additionally, there was a character named Shephard Book on the television show "Firefly," played by actor Ron Glass.
Overall, while the name Shephard may not be as well-known or commonly used as some other names, it has a rich history and meaning that dates back thousands of years to biblical times. It is associated with leadership, guidance, and caring for others, making it an attractive choice for parents looking for a unique and meaningful name for their child.
Statistics on the given name Shephard in the United States show a varied trend over recent decades. In the year 1952, there were only 5 babies born with this name, indicating it was not very common during that time period.
Interestingly, there was a brief spike in popularity in 2008 and again in 2015, with each of these years seeing 6 births. This suggests that for some reason, perhaps influenced by pop culture trends or personal preference, parents were drawn to this name more than usual during those particular years.
The year 2017 marked another uptick, with 7 babies named Shephard born in the United States. This number held steady at 6 births again in 2018 before jumping up to a significant high of 10 births in 2021 - more than doubling the previous peak! However, it seems that this surge was short-lived as there were only 5 births in 2022.
Most recently, according to available data, there were 8 babies named Shephard born in the United States during the year 2023. This suggests a slight resurgence in popularity for the name after last year's dip.
Overall, when looking at the total number of births across these years, we find that a total of 60 babies were given the name Shephard in the United States between 1952 and 2023 inclusive. This shows us that while not extremely common throughout history, this name has still seen periods of modest popularity amongst American parents.