[name]Shepherd[/name] - I wanna use it. I mean its simple and totally understated. I 've always pictured it on a pale, red headed boy who has a few freckles and bright curious teal eyes. But what do you picture with it ? It would be great to hear your feedback. Maybe you could even tell me about the child you picture when thinky about your favorite name. That would be fun. 
:shock: :lol: :shock: 
:mrgreen:
When I hear [name]Shepherd[/name] I think of a shepherd. In terms of a child I would be thinking nativity play. Tbh I’ve never really heard it used as a name.
As for what I think of when I picture my favourite names…well I think of my own children. Probably not what you’re looking for but I just imagine what my children will look like.
I personally imagine a spring-like field of sheep, and possibly a Border [name]Collie[/name] or a farmer. Child wise, I imagine a dark haired little boy, green eyes and freckled, pale skin; similar to your description.
In all honesty I’m not a fan of [name]Shepherd[/name]. I do, however, like [name]Shep[/name]. It’s sweet and young sounding and very simple, but I simply can’t imagine a young man applying of university as ‘[name]Shep[/name]’ (ultimate usablility-test in my books :lol: ) I also love [name]Shem[/name] and [name]Sven[/name], but I doubt I would ever use either of them for the same reason.
I actually try my hardest not to picture a specific child with a name, personally, because I know how [secretly, obviously] disappointed I would be if my baby ‘[name]Violet[/name]’ who I’d imagined my whole life with gorgeous, long dark hair and sea-blue eyes was born with hazel eyes and dirty-blonde curls, or if my son ‘[name]Pablo[/name]’ was born with blonde hair rather than the red I had hoped for. I’m around 10-15 years from ever wanting to have children, at the very least, by the way, and I know that names I love now will not necessarily be my favourites when I’m older, but it’s something I still feel I should bare in mind.
I appologise for my rant 
I think of a gentle leader. It’s my second son’s mn. I love it!
I also think of a nativity scene child shepherd… Or a herding dog. I think this name is a little too furry around the ears for a child.
[name]How[/name] about
[name]Shea[/name]
[name]Sean[/name]
[name]Shane[/name]
[name]Shimon[/name] (a variant of [name]Simon[/name] popular in [name]Israel[/name])
[name]Sawyer[/name]
[name]Archer[/name]
[name]Deacon[/name]
[name]Mason[/name]
[name]Carter[/name]
[name]Porter[/name]
[name]Baird[/name]
[name]Ward[/name]
I think [name]Shepherd[/name] is a great, unexpected name! The nn [name]Shep[/name] is just a bonus in my mind. [name]Shepherd[/name] does conjure up pastoral imagery to me, but I think green pastures and wooly little lambs are kind of a nice association for a name. 
My first image was of [name]Derek[/name] [name]Shepherd[/name] on [name]Grey[/name]'s Anatomy, and my second of [name]Jack[/name] [name]Shephard[/name] and his dad [name]Christian[/name] on LOST, and third was of [name]Shep[/name] [name]Walker[/name] in The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Fourth was of our [name]German[/name] shepherd [name]Max[/name], and fifth was the actual shepherd; finally I thought of “[name]Jesus[/name] the Good [name]Shepherd[/name],” a school and church in our town. I think it would be an okay name, but so far I’m the only one who has thought of specific people first.
I think the nn “[name]Shep[/name]” would be nice; it is the name [name]Siddalee[/name]'s father goes by in the Ya-Ya books. His full name is “[name]Shepard[/name] [name]James[/name] [name]Walker[/name].” Because of my association with the characters, the name makes me think of gentle, intelligent men who have a tendency to become spinal surgeons or neurosurgeons.
I know an older man with this name so that is what I think of. I do like the sound but it does feel like a lot. I imagine not so much appearance, but just it’s hard to imagine a [name]Shepherd[/name] not being a very caring, loving, responsible person (the older man I know is!). The whole religious side of shepherd…The [name]Lord[/name] is my shepherd, I shall not want…That’s nice, but maybe also a little much to live up to? Good luck!