Mass Effect: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Shepard
8. He's Named After The First American In Space
The inspiration for Commander Shepard's name ties very neatly into the setting of Mass Effect.
But why did they decide to name the character 'Shepard?' It could be easily interpreted that it's a metaphor for Shepard guiding the human race (which it probably is, to an extent), but the real inspiration for the name lies in real life space exploration.
Bioware settled on the name Commander Shepard in honour of Rear Admiral Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr, officially the first American astronaut to travel into space. Shepard first went into space in 1961, and in 1971, he was also one of the few people who have throughout history had the opportunity to walk on the moon.
The name was perfect for the series. Not only is Alan Shepard considered a pioneer in space travel, but his name is generic enough that it fits neatly into almost any player character. Given the level of customisation Bioware offered us for our Shepards, the name ties in beautifully.
Speaking of important event in space exploration history, you'll never guess how Shepard's birthday ties into another famous event as well...