Idris
Idris was the 694th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 391 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 599 places. More babies were named Idris in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning Welsh: 'lord' + uncertain element; Arabic: name of a prophet · Welsh, Arabic
Say it ID-ris /ˈɪdɹɪs/
- Rank in 2025
- #694 boys, up 134 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 391boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025391 babies
- Total since 1880
- 5,084babies recorded
What does the name Idris mean?
Idris has two separate sources. In Welsh it is an old name, borne by the legendary giant Idris Gawr of the mountain Cadair Idris. Wiktionary traces it to Old Welsh Iudris, from iud 'lord' plus a second element of uncertain meaning, probably the one found in Rhys. In Arabic, Idrīs is a prophet named in the Quran and traditionally identified with the biblical Enoch; the origin of that name is unclear. The British actor Idris Elba made the name familiar in the US.
Iudris (Old Welsh, “iud 'lord' + uncertain element”)إِدْرِيس (Idrīs) (Arabic, “name of a prophet”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Two unrelated origins. The second Welsh element is uncertain; the Arabic name's origin is unclear.
Other explanations you may read: Arabic Idris 'interpreter' or 'studious', from darasa 'to study'.
Pronunciation: In Arabic and Welsh the stress and vowels differ; Arabic is close to id-REES.
See also: Welsh names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Idris' (Welsh section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Idris' (English section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wikidata item Q30090628 ('Idris' given name), Wikidata (CC0)
Idris popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 53 since 1920, 6 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #694 | 391 |
| 2020 | #828 | 277 |
| 2010 | #1,568 | 101 |
| 2000 | #3,020 | 29 |
| 1990 | #3,365 | 18 |
| 1980 | #1,744 | 33 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Idris, counting every spelling?
Idris is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #672 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #694 for Idris on its own. Together these spellings went to 399 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idris | 391 | #694 | 1,661 |
| Idriss | 8 | #9,225 | 58 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Idris?
391 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Idris (0.11 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Idris born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 21 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Idris.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Idris?
About 4,900 people born in the US named Idris are alive today, with a median age of 9; half are between 4 and 18. That makes Idris a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Idris by state
How common Idris was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Minnesota (2.3×), New York (2.3×), Illinois (2.3×), Maryland (1.9×), New Jersey (1.8×). In 26 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Idris: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Idris, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Idris · Sibling names for Idris
Questions about the name Idris
What does Idris mean?
Idris is usually explained as “Welsh: 'lord' + uncertain element; Arabic: name of a prophet”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.
How popular is the name Idris?
Idris was the 694th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 391 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 599 places. More babies were named Idris in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Idris a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Idris in the US.
Where is Idris most popular?
In 2021–2025, Idris was most common in Minnesota (0.45 per 1,000 boys), followed by New York and Illinois.