Shepard is a spelling of the English surname Shepherd, which simply means "shepherd" or "sheep herder" and was given to men who tended flocks. American bearers include astronaut Alan Shepard, the first American in space, and the playwright and actor Sam Shepard. The name entered the top 1000 in 2020 at number 921 and has edged up to number 892 in 2025, its best rank so far.