| Idris | Mustafa | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | studious, learned (disputed) | The chosen one |
| Origin | arabic | Arabic |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | id-REES | MUS-tah-fah |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1963 |
| Peak year | 2025 (391) | 2025 (339) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 339 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Idris | Mustafa |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,938 | 1,636 |
| 2010s | 1,628 | 2,243 |
| 2000s | 543 | 1,605 |
| 1990s | 345 | 1,016 |
| 1980s | 283 | 633 |
| 1970s | 282 | 219 |
| 1960s | 0 | 21 |
| 1950s | 7 | 0 |
| 1910s | 5 | 0 |
Traditionally linked by Arabic sources to the root d-r-s (د-ر-س, 'to study, to learn'), giving 'studious, learned'; another old interpretation is 'interpreter'. Many scholars regard the ultimate origin as non-Arabic, since Idris is the Quranic prophet traditionally identified with the Biblical Enoch. The meaning is therefore disputed.
Mustafa means “the chosen one,” an epithet of the Prophet Muhammad.
Mustafa is more popular than Idris today: about 339 US babies were given the name Mustafa in 2025, compared with 0 named Idris.
Idris means studious, learned (disputed) (arabic origin), while Mustafa means The chosen one (Arabic origin).
In US records, Idris first appears in 0 and Mustafa in 1963, so Idris has the longer recorded history.