Idris?

[Lenny86]

We have Welsh heritage, but live in London. We love the name Idris, but when we previously mentioned it (during another pregnancy) it received really mixed opinions…a couple of friends have said it would be cultural appropriation/“not right for a white person” as in London it is viewed as a Muslim name. Just wondering what people’s thought are and if anybody thinks it offensive for a white child to have this name in a multicultural area.

Other options include Osian and Nico

I have an idris! Also not in wales ( but my parents are Welsh). I love it

Love Idris. Was it a non-Muslim person that said that to you about it being cultural appropriation? It's a nonsense comment anyway because Idris is Welsh and you've Welsh background.

Osian and Nico are lovely names as well.

The names are unrelated. Idris is a very cool welsh name and I know a couple of them. Go for it.

It’s a beautiful and pronounced differently in Arabic to the version heard in the UK.

@SionnachRua

Love Idris. Was it a non-Muslim person that said that to you about it being cultural appropriation? It's a nonsense comment anyway because Idris is Welsh and you've Welsh background.

Osian and Nico are lovely names as well.

Yes, the negative comments have been from white, non-Muslim people. A family member also said it was a celebrity name like Kylie and Jason in the 80s and it wouldn’t age well and another friend questioned whether it was a “black name” because of Idris Elba….this is why we haven’t asked people during this pregnancy. People are pretty rude when it comes to names I have found

Idris is a welsh name.
Idris/Idriss is an arabic name, equivalent to Enoch (Enoc) I think.

People can be ignorant about welsh names.

I was surprised by Idris Elba's heritage when I first heard of him - to me (half Welsh) it's a Welsh name.

I prefer Osian

Idris is a great name. Use it if you love it.

The people talking about cultural appropriation are ironically being very ignorant about other cultures, as Idris is very much a Welsh name. It's not unheard of for similar names to arise from different cultures. Sabrina and Sabreena are another example.

This is my worry with using Idris too. I think it's absolutely fine to use, not cultural appropriation at all, obviously but I'd rather people didn't think I was appropriating. Then again, they would be the ignorant ones!

If I used it I would be clear I was using a lovely traditional Welsh name. I grew up with a Welsh name in England so am well versed in explaining its origins, spelling and pronunciation so I think I wouldn't have any trouble saying 'yes, we wanted to use a traditional Welsh name' or 'actually it's Welsh'.

Bonus points if you mention Idris the Dragon

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

Anyone who knows Idris is a Welsh name and accuses you of cultural appropriation for using a name from your own culture is a twat.

That said, I do prefer Osian.

Well yes, in London it would be mostly Muslim’s who recognise it but it is a Welsh name so you should crack on.

As an aside, I am Muslim and have two very close relatives called Idris and one of the reasons my non Muslim English relative went with Idris was because of the Welsh connection. Also, is Idris Elba Muslim? Surely that is where most people will have heard it.

Lastly, it’s a wonderful name.

Thanks, that’s what I was thinking…when you google the name it says it’s a Muslim or Welsh name. I don’t think Idris Elba is muslim - his name is actually Idrissa (according to wiki).

It’s a lovely name. Just go for it. I find people have a lot to say when discussing names but once the baby arrives and you say ‘meet Idris’ it’s just their name.

@DonttouchthatLarry

Can’t you be black and Welsh?

[quote User5827372728]@DonttouchthatLarry

Can’t you be black and Welsh?[/quote]
Of course you can - but Idris Elba's parents were from Sierra Leone and Ghana, and he was born and brought up in London - not much Welsh going on there!

Brilliant name! Absolutely Love it ❤

(Ivor the Engine fan)

Of course you can be black and Welsh! Doesn’t mean Idris Elba is though.

Yes, the negative comments have been from white, non-Muslim people.

That's always the way, some people love getting offended on behalf of cultures they've no part of. I wouldn't listen to them on it.

I spent most of my career working with Muslim families, and never came across an Idris! I always thought it was Welsh.

Welsh person here, love Idris-considered it for our son but said Idris and was met with ‘Elba’ so decided against it. Went with Jude…was met with Law. You can’t win them all, eh.

Idris is very clearly both Welsh and Arabic to me - so I definitely wouldn't think it was a "black name"/cultural appropriation (it's just unfortunate that one celeb has made the name much better known in England - but I'm sure there will be another famous one eventually!).

I must admit I do prefer the sound of similar but softer Emrys, but Idris is nice too. Osian is okay and I have a real soft spot for cool Nico (although I do think of it as more of a nn).

I love Idris and it was my best name pick but DH vetoed. It had the Welsh connection for me - my grandma was Welsh.

If anyone says isn't that cultural appropriation? I'd just feign confusion and say no, it's Welsh, we are from Wales.

In Arabic countries it’s pronounced Idrees. The I is very short and the emphasis starts on the d and continues till the end

It's a great name. I only know one (a wee Welsh fella who would be about 4 now) and he suits it.

Depends where you are in terms of how it'd be pronounced in Arabic - I live in Egypt & it's mostly pronounced here with a shortish 'I'. It's sort of like Ibrahim - the I gets elongated a bit, somewhere halfway between the 'i' in 'bit' & the 'ee' in 'sweet'.

I think it's a lovely name. I'm mildly biased because I teach a couple of fabulous lads called Idris, but it's a great name.

Might be slightly put off by everyone thinking it was after Idris Elba, but that's unlikely to be a consideration in 20 years time. No disrespect to the no doubt lovely Mr Elba, but it's a well established name anyway.