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I'm sorry, but since I'm not a native English speaker, the only associations I get are shepherd's pie and über-religious parents.

I've always loved Shepherd, but it's in a constant limbo between usable and GP for me. I think it's a much nicer occupational name than Hunter or Tanner (very sweet, as you said, but there's also a quiet strength that I admire) but it'll probably never receive the kind of love that those names do. I dunno. If I ever did talk myself into using it, it'd probably be as an "interesting middle name" only. I'd love to meet a Shepherd of any age, though; maybe he could sway me into seriously considering it as a first name.

Makes me think of a guy surrounded by sheep.

I think Shepherd is great! I don't mind Shep as a nn at all. I find it sweeter, but still strong and also old fashioned too.

My husband's nephew's kids are Shepherd and Noelle. They're preschool age. We don't know why they have a Christmas theme going on.

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Shepherd seems a little strange to me. Not out-there but headed in that direction. In fact, everyone in the family that I know thinks Shepherd is on the odd side.

I like it in therory, but I would never personally use it.

I've heard this name IRL once and it just didn't sound right to me, not quite like a name...

I love it enough that I think it would be a serious contender if I had another boy. It's a little bit different without being off-the-wall, and it sounds sort of sweet.

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Shep feels almost unavoidable, and I don't mind it.

You know, I totally dig it. I think it's nicely offbeat and hipstery, but it's understated (sweeter and old-fashioned, yes) and not obnoxious.

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My uncle (by marriage) has a nephew named Shepherd, which is the only one I've heard of. I know they call him Shep, but I wouldn't use that as a regular nickname either.

I don't hate it. I could see it being an allusion to Jesus, actually. There's a guy on Fox News named Shep Smith and I hate him but I kind of like the nickname Shep.

For a male sheepdog, perhaps...

I like occupation surnames, so I don't see anything wrong with it being "too close". I think Shepherd is really nice, it has a friendly sound and look, and it's to find a middle name to go with it.

It has an unpleasant sound to me and reminds me of shepherd's pie, which I don't much care for.

It's alright. It could be anachronistic / posh, or he could have brothers Shane, Travis, Maverick, and Hunter. hehe. It doesn't have the same trendiness or chill of Cooper or Parker. I think Shep is OK but it wouldn't be difficult to just reject the nickname, with a What are you thinking?? look.

I struggle to see it as anything but a surname and an occupation, and it immediately brings to mind little boys with towels on their head, playing shepherds in the school nativity play. I wouldn't really take note if I met a Shepherd, though. It feels pretty down to earth.

It's not bad for someone else. I wouldn't, personally. I don't think it ages well.

I don't like Shep either. It makes me think of Christmas.