Idris

Idris has independent Welsh and Arabic naming traditions. The Welsh name is usually interpreted as “ardent lord” and is associated with the legendary Idris of Welsh mountain lore. In Islamic tradition, Idris is a prophet named in the Quran; the name is commonly linked with learning or study, although that interpretation should not erase its separate history.

Pronunciation differs between the Welsh and Arabic traditions, particularly the stressed syllable. Actor Idris Elba provides a familiar modern bearer, but the name predates him by centuries. Families with a connection to either tradition can make their intended story and pronunciation clear without combining the two origins into one meaning.