Jay vs Shepherd

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Jay

Boy #397 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"to rejoice, joyful"

Origin: Latin (Gaius)

American English South Asian Universal

✓ All Clear

Boy #311 Most Popular 2 Syllables

English American

✓ All Clear

Jay Rank #397

Shepherd Rank #311

Shepherd is more popular, ranked #311 vs #397 for Jay.

Is Jay or Shepherd more popular?

Shepherd is more popular, ranked #311 compared to Jay at #397 in the United States.

What do Jay and Shepherd mean?

Jay means "to rejoice, joyful" (Latin (Gaius) origin).

Are Jay and Shepherd boy or girl names?

Jay is primarily a boy name. Shepherd is primarily a boy name.