Sheppard
Boy name · #3040 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Sheppard? In official American birth records, Sheppard has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 40 baby boys were named Sheppard, placing it at #3040 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #5999, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 45,000 boys born in 2025 was named Sheppard.
The 145-year story
Sheppard first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 40 babies and a rank of #3036. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Sheppard per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Sheppard against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Sheppard in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Sheppard is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Sheppard will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Sheppard is most common
State-level data for Sheppard is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Sheppard
Statistically, parents drawn to Sheppard tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Shepard, Beauregard, Shriyan, Townsend, and Shloimy.
ShepardBeauregardShriyanTownsendShloimyEmeraldSulaymanSufiyan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Sheppard | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 40 | #3036 |
| 2024 | 35 | #3335 |
| 2023 | 38 | #3177 |
| 2022 | 31 | #3617 |
| 2021 | 28 | #3814 |
| 2020 | 23 | #4275 |
| 2019 | 33 | #3426 |
| 2018 | 25 | #4094 |
| 2017 | 20 | #4746 |
| 2016 | 23 | #4327 |
| 2015 | 14 | #5999 |
| 2014 | 10 | #7562 |
| 2013 | 9 | #8118 |
| 2012 | 11 | #7050 |
| 2011 | 9 | #8079 |
| 2010 | 10 | #7591 |
| 2009 | 10 | #7692 |
| 2008 | 5 | #12553 |
| 2007 | 6 | #10921 |
| 2006 | 10 | #7427 |
| 2005 | 10 | #7096 |
| 2004 | 9 | #7536 |
| 2003 | 5 | #10894 |
| 2000 | 5 | #10349 |
| 1996 | 6 | #7971 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Sheppard?
In official American birth records, the name Sheppard first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Sheppard a popular boy name?
Sheppard ranked #3040 among boys in 2025 with 40 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #5999.
When was the name Sheppard most popular?
Sheppard peaked in 2025, when 40 American boys received the name (ranked #3036 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Sheppard?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 45,000 newborn American boys was named Sheppard. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.