The　effects　of　nanoparticle　shape　are　first　introduced　to　study　the　nonsimilar　solutions　of　stagnation　point　boundary　layer　flow　of　water–copper　nanofluid　saturated　in　a　porous　medium.　Two　cases　of　solid　matrix　of　porous　medium,　including　glass　balls　and　aluminum　foam,　are　considered.　By　using　a　new　empirical　correlation　for　the　heat　capacitance,　thermal　conductivity,　and　thermal　diffusivity　of　the　nanofluid　saturated　in　a　porous　medium,　the　governing　equations　of　the　problem　are　constructed　and　reduced　by　dimensionless　variables　and　nonsimilar　transformations,　and　the　homotopy　analysis　method　is　adopted　to　solve　the　partial　differential　equations.　The　results　indicate　that　the　heat　transfer　is　significantly　enhanced　with　the　increase　of　permeability　of　the　porous　medium　on　the　surface　of　the　stagnation　point　boundary　layer　flow.　In　addition,　it　is　found　that　the　empirical　shape　of　the　nanoparticle　has　an　impact　on　the　heat　transfer.　©　2017　Wiley　Periodicals,　Inc.