UK boy's name
Driss
A masculine Arabic name derived from the word "dirīs" meaning "solid" or "firm".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2001. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Driss is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Driss popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2001 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3134, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1998 to 2001. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Driss. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2002 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Driss ranked #3134 for boys in England and Wales in 2001, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 3 boys were registered as Driss.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Driss as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3134
2001
Births in 2001
3
Latest year
Peak year
1998
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Driss mean?
The given name Driss is of Arabic origin and has been in use since ancient times. It is derived from the Arabic root word "darasa" which means "to study" or "to learn". The name is believed to have originated in the region that is now modern-day Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Driss can be found in the Islamic religious texts, where it is mentioned as the name of a companion of the Prophet Muhammad. This companion, known as Driss ibn al-Khattab, played a significant role in the early spread of Islam in North Africa.
During the medieval period, the name Driss gained popularity among Arab scholars and intellectuals. It was often bestowed upon individuals who were known for their pursuit of knowledge and commitment to education. One notable figure from this era was Driss al-Razi, a Persian polymath who lived from 865 to 925 CE. He made significant contributions to various fields, including medicine, philosophy, and alchemy.
In the 12th century, a famous Sufi mystic and poet named Driss al-Halaj was born in what is now modern-day Iran. He is remembered for his profound spiritual teachings and his willingness to sacrifice his life for his beliefs. Al-Halaj was executed in 922 CE for his controversial views on the nature of divine love.
Another prominent individual who bore the name Driss was Driss al-Idrissi, a renowned Arab geographer and cartographer who lived in the 12th century. He is best known for his work titled "Nuzhat al-Mushtaq fi Ikhtiraq al-Afaq" (The Pleasure Excursion of One Who Is Eager to Traverse the Regions of the World), which contained detailed maps and descriptions of various regions of the world.
In more recent history, one of the most famous figures with the name Driss was Driss Basri, a Moroccan independence activist and political leader who played a crucial role in Morocco's struggle for independence from French colonial rule in the mid-20th century. Basri was born in 1888 and died in 1984, having witnessed and participated in the major events that shaped modern Morocco.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Driss over time
The chart below shows babies named Driss registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2001. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Driss, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2001, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Driss by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Driss was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3134 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2901 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Driss
- Daniel 120,900
- Dylan 60,836
- David 37,852
- Dominic 20,480
- Declan 11,657
- Dexter 11,627
- Danny 8,434
- Dean 5,329
- Dillon 4,113
- Douglas 3,773
- Dominik 3,494
- Damian 3,486
FAQ
Driss: questions and answers
How popular is the name Driss in the UK right now?
In 2001, Driss was ranked #3134 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Driss most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 3 babies registered as Driss in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Driss?
A masculine Arabic name derived from the word "dirīs" meaning "solid" or "firm".
How many people are called Driss in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Driss across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.