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Idris as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Idris

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The baby name Idris is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced English: /ˈɪdrɪs/ (IH-dris); Arabic: /ɪdriːs/ (id-REES).

Idris is Arabic, Welsh in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Arabic, Welsh
Pronunciation: English: /ˈɪdrɪs/ (IH-dris); Arabic: /ɪdriːs/ (id-REES)

What is the meaning of the name Idris ?

The baby name Idris is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced English: /ˈɪdrɪs/ (IH-dris); Arabic: /ɪdriːs/ (id-REES).

Idris is Arabic, Welsh in Origin.

Idris bridges Welsh and Arabic traditions. In Welsh, it likely combines udd or iudd “lord” with ris “ardent, impulsive,” yielding “ardent lord,” remembered in folklore by Idris Gawr, the giant whose “chair” is the mountain Cadair Idris in Snowdonia. In Arabic, Idrīs (إدريس) names a Qur’anic prophet commonly identified with Enoch; linked to the root d-r-s “to study,” it conveys senses of “learned, studious,” and “interpreter.”

Usage spans centuries across Celtic Wales and the Islamic world. Medieval Welsh bearers appear in early records, with modern revival during the 19th‑20th‑century cultural renaissance. In Muslim regions the name has been popular since early Islam, with notable figures such as King Idris of Libya and actor Idris Elba boosting international recognition. Variants include Idrīs, Idriss, Driss, Idrees, Edris, Idriz (Balkan), and Idrissa (West African). Diminutives are rare, keeping the name’s crisp, dignified sound.

Idris has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Idris

Idris Elba Actor|musician · Born 1972 · United Kingdom Idris Elba is a British actor and musician best known for his role as Stringer Bell in the television series 'The Wire' and as DCI John Luther in 'Luther'. He has also appeared in films like 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom' and 'Beasts of No Nation'. Additionally, Elba has pursued a career in music, performing as a DJ under the moniker DJ Big Driis. Idris I of Libya Politician · Born 1890 · Libya Idris I of Libya was the first and only King of Libya, reigning from 1951 until 1969. He is most famous for leading Libya to independence from British and French oversight in 1951. His reign ended when he was deposed in a coup led by Muammar Gaddafi. Idris Alooma Royal · Born 1580 · Kanem-Bornu Empire Idris Alooma, also known as al-Hajj Idris IV, is most famous for being a powerful ruler of the Kanem-Bornu Empire, serving as mai from about 1570 to 1603. During his reign, the empire expanded across parts of what are now Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria.

Idris – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2025 #1 — 836
Germany Boys 2025 #1 — 423
DJ 0 #17 1 322
DJ Girls 0 #29 1 488
DJ Boys 0 #32 5 657
ID 0 #35 5 2,238
TM Boys 0 #36 1 614
NG Boys 0 #39 10,657 16,906
BI Boys 0 #44 1 917
AF 0 #76 1 1,883
AL 0 #76 1 2,372
MV Boys 0 #79 1 3,375
NG 0 #87 209 5,926
SD 0 #89 12 2,130
AF Girls 0 #94 1 2,402
KZ 0 #94 1 1,452
QA 0 #103 4 7,011
BN Boys 0 #109 25 6,332
GE Boys 0 #109 2 2,055
AZ Boys 0 #111 20 1,400
SD Boys 0 #112 674 10,523
Norway Boys 2025 #113 22 444
BN Girls 0 #114 1 5,459
OM 0 #114 8 6,215
HU 0 #115 1 1,675
Switzerland Boys 2024 #118 20 1,769
ID Boys 0 #118 14 4,130
Belgium Boys 2024 #119 70 401
KW 0 #120 2 5,216
Sweden Boys 2022 #127 56 1,509
IQ 0 #127 7 3,533
GR 0 #135 1 3,911
PA 0 #137 2 3,797
BW Boys 0 #153 2 4,685
RS Boys 0 #154 1 2,277
AE 0 #168 10 10,220
MT Boys 0 #175 5 4,064
HR 0 #180 2 2,081
CZ 0 #185 2 3,154
Canada Boys 2024 #196 113 2,588
DK 0 #205 2 5,198
BG Boys 0 #207 13 3,850
SI Boys 0 #210 2 3,402
BD 0 #211 17 5,992
LU Boys 0 #219 2 4,970
MY Boys 0 #222 2,043 25,439
AL Girls 0 #226 2 4,141
IR 0 #230 2 4,221
KZ Boys 0 #239 51 6,578
GR Boys 0 #240 28 6,912
TR 0 #241 9,085 19,440
GH 0 #243 6 5,396
AO Boys 0 #248 2 5,568
NA Boys 0 #252 2 6,830
AF Boys 0 #254 17 3,535
TW Boys 0 #254 3 7,111
France Boys 2021 #256 137 2,865
HR Boys 0 #256 4 3,997
SA 0 #262 34 10,560
AL Boys 0 #269 30 5,122
RU Boys 0 #271 277 12,621
SG 0 #274 9 11,010
LY 0 #281 288 12,703
MY 0 #287 44 12,352
TW Girls 0 #289 1 8,139
DK Boys 0 #293 33 7,401
DZ 0 #298 2,221 20,130
JP Boys 0 #299 5 7,909
CZ Boys 0 #304 2 6,530
GH Boys 0 #312 34 8,138
NG Girls 0 #318 780 15,093
CN Boys 0 #326 6 9,639
GH Girls 0 #334 4 6,973
SD Girls 0 #334 12 7,678
PL Boys 0 #338 3 6,459
JO Girls 0 #339 1 7,570
QA Girls 0 #341 3 15,378
CM Boys 0 #346 231 12,054
YE 0 #346 36 8,639
CZ Girls 0 #351 1 5,378
MU Boys 0 #364 6 8,477
JO Boys 0 #366 12 7,057
PT Boys 0 #380 2 7,951
Austria Boys 0 #381 62 2,180
OM Girls 0 #387 10 15,987
BD Girls 0 #400 7 8,413
BD Boys 0 #401 188 10,045
PH Boys 0 #406 3 11,440
BO 0 #408 1 6,868
Finland Boys 0 #409 19 2,041
IQ Boys 0 #409 280 13,071
EG 0 #411 2 6,387
Germany 0 #420 18 2,542
MA 0 #420 1,342 20,986
PH Girls 0 #428 2 13,098
MX 0 #445 1 8,339
ZA 0 #466 9 14,421
TN 0 #476 442 13,765
SG Boys 0 #494 208 17,960
PA Boys 0 #505 1 9,305
BH 0 #509 45 17,937
CR Boys 0 #509 2 10,188
PS Boys 0 #513 36 10,655
RU Girls 0 #521 3 11,913
IQ Girls 0 #523 3 11,303
IR Boys 0 #539 14 10,162
AE Girls 0 #541 13 20,968
GT Girls 0 #541 1 7,500
IR Girls 0 #545 1 8,334
PS Girls 0 #547 1 10,981
HK Boys 0 #553 5 12,905
KW Girls 0 #555 7 19,177
CM Girls 0 #556 5 11,671
QA Boys 0 #557 151 18,093
KW Boys 0 #567 204 18,755
United States Boys 2024 #572 347 7,044
IL Boys 0 #587 21 10,983
OM Boys 0 #590 304 17,948
Finland Boys 2026 #593 90 3,552
SA Boys 0 #619 1,667 28,008
SG Girls 0 #627 6 18,916
IL Girls 0 #645 1 11,648
LB 0 #647 12 13,263
HK Girls 0 #650 1 16,104
IN Girls 0 #653 2 13,121
Germany Boys 0 #669 298 5,697
SY 0 #684 45 11,684
CL Boys 0 #698 3 13,390
NL Boys 0 #733 220 5,873
AE Boys 0 #743 363 22,615
EG Boys 0 #780 107 15,035
BR Boys 0 #785 1 12,213
SA Girls 0 #853 83 25,931
Spain Boys 0 #884 47 5,610
United States Girls 2023 #908 7 8,600
CL Girls 0 #914 2 14,098
IN Boys 0 #916 86 16,750
MY Girls 0 #939 56 24,821
NL Girls 0 #946 10 5,933
CO Boys 0 #976 6 15,656
EG Girls 0 #1,007 3 14,742
PE Girls 0 #1,009 2 14,861
MX Boys 0 #1,030 4 16,355
ZA Boys 0 #1,045 134 25,619
CO Girls 0 #1,151 2 16,140
IT Boys 0 #1,152 322 10,046
ZA Girls 0 #1,234 3 25,928
MX Girls 0 #1,260 8 17,781

Idris is popular in 84 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Norway
Canada
Switzerland
United States

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People also ask about Idris

Idris is predominantly a boy's name.
Idris is a 2 syllable name, pronounced English: /ˈɪdrɪs/ (IH-dris); Arabic: /ɪdriːs/ (id-REES).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Idrīs and Idrees.
Yes, very popular — Idris ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 11 countries.
Idris ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Idris's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #304 in 2011 to #256 in 2021 in France.
Yes — 3 notable people named Idris are in our database, including Idris Elba (Actor|musician), Idris I of Libya (Politician), Idris Alooma (Royal).