NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Idrees

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "teacher" or "instructive one".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Idrees is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Idrees popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #389, with 106 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 106 births.

This profile covers 1,149 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 1,155 living people in the UK are called Idrees. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Idrees ranked #389 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 106 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 106 boys were registered as Idrees.
  • Idrees ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #703 in 2022.
  • About 1,155 living people in the UK are estimated to have Idrees as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#389

2024

Births in 2024

106

Latest year

Peak year

2023

106 births

Estimated living

1,155

2026

Meaning

What does Idrees mean?

The name Idrees has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, tracing back to the 7th century CE. It is derived from the Arabic word "darasa," which means "to study" or "to learn." The name Idrees is believed to be a variant of the biblical name Enoch, who is revered as a prophet in both the Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions.

In Islamic tradition, Idrees is regarded as one of the earliest prophets, often identified with the figure of Enoch mentioned in the Old Testament. He is highly esteemed for his wisdom, knowledge, and devotion to God. The Quran refers to Idrees as a man of truth and patience, and he is mentioned alongside other notable prophets such as Noah and Abraham.

The earliest recorded use of the name Idrees can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Prophet Muhammad and the emergence of Islam. It gained widespread popularity among Muslims as a name for newborn boys, reflecting the reverence for the prophet Idrees and the desire to emulate his virtues.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Idrees. One of the earliest recorded figures is Idrees al-Shafi'i (767-820 CE), a renowned Islamic jurist and the founder of the Shafi'i school of Islamic jurisprudence. His contributions to the development of Islamic legal theory and methodology were monumental.

Another prominent figure is Idrees Shah (1924-1996), an influential writer and teacher of Sufism, the mystical tradition of Islam. He was instrumental in introducing and popularizing Sufism in the West through his numerous books and teachings.

In the realm of literature, Idrees Patel (1944-2019) was a distinguished Indian author and critic. He was widely acclaimed for his novels, short stories, and essays, exploring themes of identity, culture, and the human condition.

Idrees Baluche (1648-1704) was a prominent Sufi saint and poet from Pakistan. His spiritual teachings and poetic works have left a lasting impact on the cultural and literary heritage of the region.

Idrees Watt (1909-1964) was a renowned Scottish historian and Islamic scholar. His seminal work, "The Majesty That Was Islam," is considered a classic in the study of Islamic civilization and its influence on the world.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Idrees throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human knowledge and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Idrees over time

The chart below shows babies named Idrees registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Idrees, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 106 births in 2024, compared with 106 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Idrees
0275380106199620102024

Decades

Idrees by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Idrees 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
2020s #449 455 5
2010s #850 469 10
2000s #1183 180 10
1990s #1171 45 4

Geography

Where Idrees is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Idrees. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Idrees ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #703 in 2022.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Idrees in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#703 in 2022

4 years of NRS records, 13 total registered

Related

Names similar to Idrees

FAQ

Idrees: questions and answers

How popular is the name Idrees in the UK right now?

In 2024, Idrees was ranked #389 for boys in England and Wales, with 106 births registered.

When was Idrees most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 106 babies registered as Idrees in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Idrees?

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "teacher" or "instructive one".

How many people are called Idrees in the UK?

A total of 1,149 babies have been registered as Idrees across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 13 more in Scotland.

Where is Idrees most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Idrees ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #703 in 2022. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.