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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Idris?

57 replies

hungrycat101 · 03/01/2023 17:23

Looking for some opinions on the name Idris.

My Mum is Welsh.
My Dad is English.
My boyfriend's family are English.

We live in London. This is our first child.

We both really like the name Idris.

My worry is, will we constantly be explaining that we have a Welsh connection and needing to justify the name choice?

Or am I hormonal and panicking unnecessarily!

Thanks in advance for opinions!

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Insomnia23 · 10/01/2023 22:40

Although unique it’s a bit harsh sound.

SpaceCandyCoconut · 09/01/2023 10:12

Lovely name. Not Welsh but have lived there in the past.

FayCarew · 09/01/2023 10:03

RambamThankyouMam · 06/01/2023 16:10

I don't like it much. It sounds oddly greasy.

Julian and Sebastian sound greasy to me.

Zampa · 08/01/2023 22:31

I'd always wondered what Idris Elba's Welsh connection was but after reading this thread in guessing his version of the name is the Arabic one (seeing as he's from Hackney).

Keha · 08/01/2023 22:26

My mum is welsh, I really like it but DH vetoed. I'd understand the welsh connection and I like that it is pronounced how it looks. I do think you'd get people thinking of Idris Elba but does that matter?

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 08/01/2023 18:33

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 08/01/2023 18:14

It sounds oddly greasy

What a strange thing to say.

I think there must be several synaesthetes amongst the regular posters on this board. It is the only explanation for some of the comments about certain names!

eatdrinkandbemerry · 08/01/2023 18:18

I know two little boys called idris who are Asian.
I'm shocked it's Welsh as I honestly thought it was a common Asian name x
But it's lovely and the two I know are awesome little guys x

GogLais · 08/01/2023 18:17

Baby name sites are often unreliable when it comes to Welsh names.
Welsh names often get misspelt with letters transposed.
The Idris Gwar in the link isn't Idris the (Back of the) Neck. It should read Idris Gawr - Idris the Giant.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 08/01/2023 18:14

It sounds oddly greasy

What a strange thing to say.

Trees6 · 08/01/2023 18:09

I like it. Also Emrys, which has been suggested on here before.

CaffiSaliMali · 08/01/2023 18:00

www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2014/07/idris.html

Link explains how Idris is a Welsh name plus an Arabic name.

DotDotDotDotDot · 06/01/2023 16:55

I really like Idris, you should go for it. I don’t think you’ll have any issues with it living in London. I also like the pp suggestion of Emrys. Good luck.

RambamThankyouMam · 06/01/2023 16:10

I don't like it much. It sounds oddly greasy.

Rickandmortified100 · 06/01/2023 15:07

Is Idris Welsh? The only Idris I know is a friend of mine who is an Indian Muslim who has never been to go UK and has no connection to it (except for me!) either. I thought it was a Muslim name.

CaffiSaliMali · 04/01/2023 14:36

I'm half Welsh half English too, Mam's family are all native Welsh speakers and all have Welsh names.

Idris is on my list, it's a great name. London is very diverse, lots of people have names from all over the world so Idris wouldn't stand out here. I got comments on my Welsh name growing up in a very non-diverse area of England but have never had comments in London.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 04/01/2023 11:14

Without wishing to be too revealing, I have several family members called Idris. It is typically passed down the male line of the family (Welsh).

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 04/01/2023 10:43

Oher · 04/01/2023 10:31

Didn’t know it was Welsh

Sounds Ancient Egyptian to me 🤪

Personally I think unusual names work well on girls but are a pain for boys. My brother was given an unusual Irish name and he absolutely hates it as was mocked a lot at school.

Name-related bullying is really not a thing in London schools (although bullying for lots of other reasons is). I taught a kid called Phuc in one SE London comp and no-one turned a hair.

Idris is not that unusual a name in London.

Oher · 04/01/2023 10:31

Didn’t know it was Welsh

Sounds Ancient Egyptian to me 🤪

Personally I think unusual names work well on girls but are a pain for boys. My brother was given an unusual Irish name and he absolutely hates it as was mocked a lot at school.

FearEtc · 04/01/2023 10:03

Great name.

Maybe people will have heard of it as an Arabic name /Idris Elba rather than as a Welsh name but if they ask isn't that a lovely conversation to have? Certainly wouldn't put me off using it (I'm not Welsh but my partner is)

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 04/01/2023 09:54

Great name. Sadly I couldn't persuade Welsh DH, who had a strange resistance to any name he considered 'too Welsh'.

I think you'll probably find it is quite popular in London.

Original poster
hungrycat101 · 04/01/2023 09:12

Thank you everyone for your comments. Very interesting to hear everyone's opinions!

OP posts:
pinkismyfav · 04/01/2023 07:43

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WinterFoxes · 04/01/2023 07:41

I love it. I had a childhood crush on Idris the dragon and have always thought it the coolest of Welsh boys'names.

CastleTower · 04/01/2023 07:36

@jjeoreo You're not wrong - it's one of those coincidences where two names of different origins end up with the exact same spelling/sound.

Idris (Welsh) - ardent lord
Idris (Arabic) means prophet, I think.

Luredbyapomegranate · 03/01/2023 21:50

I love it

And more people would associate it with the actor than Wales (sorry Wales)

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