Name of the Week

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A learned and slightly mystical ancient name,
given a modern edge by actor Idris Elba.

 

Origin:

Idris represents two distinct names — one Welsh and one Arabic.  The Arabic Idris is the name of one of the prophets of Islam. He is mentioned twice in the Qu'ran:  "And mention Idris in the Book, surely he was a truthful man, a Prophet. And We raised him high in heaven. (19:57-58)." “All (Isma’il, Dhul-Kifl and Idris) were men of constancy and patience. We admitted them into Our mercy, for they were of the righteous ones.” (Surah 21: Verse 85-86) Islamic tradition credits him as the first person to learn to write, and the inventor of astronomy and arithmetic. For this reason, he is appropriately known as Idris, a name derived from the Arabic dirasah "lengthy learning" itself from darasa "to study."  From an early time, Idris was identified as being the same man as Enoch of the Hebrew Bible, who was also credited with these early inventions. More recent scholars have also connected the traditions surrounding Idris to that of Hermes, the Greek god of science and the arts whose worship was disseminated throughout the ancient world.  In Welsh legend, Idris Gwar "Idris the Giant" was a chief of giant who gave his name to Cadair Idris "the chair of Idris", a mountain in Snowdonia, so called because it is said he used the mountain as a seat from which to gaze at the stars.  It is quite possible that this Idris Gwar was actually a real man: Idris ap Gwyddno (c. 560 – 632), or Iudris, a 7th-century Meirionnydd prince who won a battle against the Irish on that mountain. In this case, Cadair may actually derive from the Irish cathair "stronghold, city." The Welsh Idris is derived from iud "lord." The second element is uncertain. It could be from the Middle Welsh gres "ardent, cherishing, warmth" or related to Rhys.

Usage:

Idris has been used in Britain since at least the 18th century, most likely coinciding with the Welsh Bardic Revival. Idrisyn was used in some cases as a diminutive. The name was not very common, but it did grow in usage over the 19th century. Previously, it had always been below the Top 200. By 1900 however, it ranked #157 in England and Wales with 129 births. Data from The Surname Atlas (click to enlarge) Census records demonstrate Idris's growing popularity within Wales, and also its move beyond its borders: 1841: 5 Wales 1851: 11 Wales 1861: 20 Wales; 1 England 1871: 31 Wales; 4 England 1881: 149 Wales; 5 England 1891: 388 Wales; 18 England 1901: 1065 Wales; 63 England 1911: 2956 Wales; 249 England Data from the 1881 census (right) shows how little Idris was used outside of Wales. Indeed, even within Wales itself, it as remarkably localised to South Wales. This is perhaps surprising given that the legends of Idris Gawr, and the mountain of Cadair Idris originate from Merionethshire in North Wales.  Of the 154 men bearing the name in 1881, 81% were living in Glamorganshire. Even when looking at the name's popularity per 100,000 people in each county, Glamorganshire still pulls out firmly in the lead.  More specific data from the Poor Law Unions in that year shows that Idris's popularity was even more closely localised within Glamorganshire to Pontypridd.  By 1901, when 1128 men were listed with the name, 72% were living in Glamorganshire still.  Usage of the name peaked in the early 20th century, as we can see rom the birth registrations in England and Wales, and then picked up again in the 1990s: 1910: 226 births 1920: 181 births 1930: 82 births 1940: 37 births 1950: 28 births 1960: 13 births 1970: 17 births 1980: 12 births 1990: 15 births From 1996 to 2008 Idris was registered in England and Wales between 21 (1999: #776) and 50 (2007: #589) times. Since 2009, Idris has been on the rise. It ranked #603 (55 births) in 2010, #449 (84 births) in 2011 and #440 (90 births) in 2012. It is impossible to tell which parents are using the Arabic Idris, and which are using the Welsh. The 19 babies named Idrees and 4 named Idriss in 2012 do show that some parents are certainly intending the Arabic. Some of this rise may also be thanks to actor Idris Elba. His name is neither from the Welsh or Arabic; Idris is instead a shortening of his birth name Idrissa.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Idris, a prophet of Islam. * Idris ap Gwyddno (c. 560–632), a prince of Meirionnydd. * Idris I of Morocco (745–791), the first ruler and founder of the Idrisid Dynasty of Morocco. * Idris Bitlisi (b. c. 1450), Kurdish religious scholar and Ottoman administrator. * Idris of Libya (1889–1983), first and only king of Libya. * Idris Davies (1905–1953), Welsh poet. * Idris Shah (1926–1996), author and teacher in the Sufi tradition. Contemporary: * Idris Elba (b. 1972), British actor. Literature and Other Media: * Idris, a character in Mary Shelley's The Last Man (1826). * Idris, a fictional dragon in Ivor the Engine. * Idris, the TARDIS personified in the Doctor Who episode "The Doctor's Wife."

Variants:

Idrus (Latin), Iudris (Old Welsh), Idriss (Arabic)

Pronunciation:

ID-ris [key]

Possible diminutives:

Iggy, Idrisyn

Sibling Names:

Iola      Alba     Betsan     Olwen     Elspeth     Mira  Darwin    Gethin     Emlyn     Denzil     Rhodri     Lloyd

Name Lists:

Slim Softies   Clunky Celtic   Names from Tennyson   Names from Harry Potter

 

If you like Idris you may also like:   Islwyn, Emrys, Iolo, Fergus, Ivor, Linus, Eben, Clive, Alvin, Clifford

 

Thanks to Rosie for requesting this post.