Idris

Idris is a male first name that appears in both Welsh and Arabic cultures. Although the spelling is identical, the meanings differ.

What does the name Idris mean?

The name Idris has different meanings in Welsh and Arabic languages. In the English-Welsh context, it is interpreted as 'the fiery one' and 'the temperamental one'. Particularly popular in medieval Wales, the name has seen a revival since the second half of the 19th century. Its roots lie in two Old Welsh name components: iud, meaning 'lord' or 'prince', and ris, which stands for 'fiery', 'impulsive', 'passionate', 'temperamental', and 'enthusiastic'. In Arabic, however, Idris (إدريس) means 'the learned one' or 'the student', derived from the word darasa (دَرَسَ), which means 'to study' or 'to learn'. In Islam, Idris is the name of a prophet who lived before Islam and is identified with the biblical Enoch. İdris is the Turkish spelling, while other variants of the name include Idrissa, Idriss, Idrissou, Idriz, Driss, and Edris.

Where does the name Idris come from?

The origin of the name Idris can be traced back to Old Welsh and Arabic roots, with the meanings 'the fiery one' or 'the learned one'. In Old Welsh, it consists of the components iud (lord, prince) and ris (fiery, impulsive, passionate, temperamental, enthusiastic). In Arabic, the word darasa (دَرَسَ) means 'to study' and 'to learn'. The name is widespread in various languages, including Arabic, Indonesian, Malay, Turkish, and Welsh.

How do you pronounce Idris?

The pronunciation of the name Idris is clear and two-syllable. In German, it is typically rendered as 'I-dris' [ˈiːdʁɪs], starting with a long I sound that conveys a certain brightness. The second syllable ends with a soft s sound, while the rolled or aspirated r places a slight accent in the middle. Idris presents itself as a modern yet traditionally rich name, distinguished by its sleek form and clear line.

Popularity

In Germany, Idris is among the more common first names. Currently, it ranks 381st in the list of the most popular male first names, with its best placement in 2023 being 377th. Over the last ten years, the name has been given approximately 1,300 times, placing it 450th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 534th. For international comparisons, Idris shows different rankings in various countries.

Nicknames & pet names

Et / Ibims / Idi / Ido / Isi / Iti

Similar first names

Famous people

• Hotep Idris Galeta (South African jazz musician)
• Idris (King of Libya (1951 - 1969))
• Idris (Prophet) (In Islam, the first person who could read and write. Corresponds to the Hebrew 'Enoch'. Idris = Teaching)
• Idris Abdul Karim (Malaysian footballer)
• Idris Ackamoor (American musician)
• Idris Ali (Egyptian writer)
• Idris Alioua (German footballer)
• Idris Azad (Pakistani writer)
• Idris Carlos Kameni (footballer from Cameroon)
• Idris Davies (Welsh poet)
• Idris Elba (English actor)
• Idris Jones (English bishop)
• Idris Jones (English rugby player)
• Idris Khan (English artist)
• Idris Muhammad (jazz musician from the USA)
• Idris Phillips (American musician)
• Idris Rahman (musician from the UK)
• Idris Towill (rugby player from the UK)
• Saif Eldin Ali Idris Farah (Sudanese football player)
• Sir Idris Foster (scholar from the UK)