I keep coming back to this name alot recently. I love it alot but I worry about potential bullying in regards to like something to do with sheep.
I think the name is unique enough but not too out there which is what I’m looking for.
[name_m]Just[/name_m] want brutally honest opinions about the name please. And if you know anyone called [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] how they like their name and if they’ve had any negativity at all?
(I live in the UK and never met anyone called Shepherd)
Overall, I think it is a cool name. I do not have any negative associations with the shepherd profession, so the relation isn’t an issue in my mind.
[name_f]My[/name_f] one thought, however, is that while [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] is a cool/fine name, it is extra cool if it is an actual family name. Your grandma’s maiden name was [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m]? That makes it so much more meaningful to use. This is how I feel about surnames for first names generally, not just for [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m].
FWIW, I also like the nickname [name_m]Shep[/name_m].
I like [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m]!
Gentle, rugged and charming!
I know a number of people with the surname [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] (in the UK) and I haven’t heard them being made fun of / anyone making sheep jokes.
[name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] is a lovely name - and while I haven’t heard anyone with it as a first name, I think it sounds similar enough or has similar vibes to ones that are used and known in the UK (I’m thinking of [name_u]Edward[/name_u], [name_m]Roman[/name_m], [name_u]Hudson[/name_u], [name_u]Sidney[/name_u], [name_u]Spencer[/name_u], [name_u]Shay[/name_u], [name_m]Leonard[/name_m], [name_u]Seth[/name_u] etc)
[name_f]My[/name_f] brutally honest opinion is that I sadly immediately think of sheep. 
I love [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m]. It’s such a sweet, soft name.
[name_u]Love[/name_u] it
It was on my list too! Great choice super refreshing
I’m sure absolutely everyone on the forums knows this already, but I’ll never turn down the chance to wax poetic about why [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] is my very favorite boy name!
For me, [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] is so many things. It’s a name that I would give to my son as a connection to the [name_u]Christian[/name_u] faith, which I hope he would share with me. I love the name as a reminder that [name_m]Jesus[/name_m] is his shepherd. However, I also love that the name implies my son’s own strength. That he is his own guide, his own shepherd. That he has the ability in this life to influence others, and that I hope he always brings light to the people that he meets. I love that the name is connected to one of my favorite Bible verses. I love that it has connections to space and science through [name_m]Alan[/name_m] [name_m]Shepard[/name_m] (though the name is spelled differently, obviously), as well as literature, such as with E.H. [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m], who was the illustrator for the [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] the Pooh books. It does have the sheep connection — but it’s the the title of the leader, not the followers, and I think that is so, unbelievably beautiful. Shepherds were not widely lauded in the Bible or in history. They were ordinary people, yet they were people who risked their lives for the well-being of others. They are a symbol of the great significance that every single person has on this [name_f]Earth[/name_f]. To name a son [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] would be, for me, giving him the gift of every hope, dream, and prayer that I have for that child. It would be my love letter to him, to help him remember how precious he is and how much his existence is worth.
I absolutely love [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] 
He’s handsome, outdoorsy, wholesome and has this peaceful tranquility to him. I think [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] is gorgeous with lovely biblical connotations that make me fall further in love with this name. I truly love [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] and I have the combination [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] [name_m]Frederick[/name_m] [name_u]Bray[/name_u] on my list.
I love [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m]! It is incredibly meaningful in many ways and a real show-stopper on paper. Plus, it sounds nice 
I think it’s very wearable
Yes, Shepherd is definitely in that sweet spot! I don’t think it has much bullying potential, though kids tend to find mean things to say to pick on their classmates. I’ve known one Shepherd, and I guess he is probably 10 now. I don’t remember anyone making rude comments in regards to his name.
Overall, I think Shepherd is so sweet! It is very wearable imo. It is kind of the epitome of “I want to love it, but it isn’t for me.” I love it so much for other people!
Honestly, my first thought was of dogs, not of sheep (or the people who herd them). I thought first of [name_m]German[/name_m] Shepherds. They are associated with good character traits. They’re a strong and noble breed. But they are dogs.
“Shep” might work a little better, I think. Unless someone has a dog called [name_m]Shep[/name_m]. That’s not common anymore, is it?