Idrissa

Meaning of Idrissa

Idrissa is a masculine name with deep roots in West African Mandinka culture and an etymological pedigree reaching back to the Arabic Idrīs, a figure celebrated in Persian mystical traditions. Pronounced ee-DREE-suh, the name evokes the quiet resolve of a scholar’s pen tracing verses by candlelight. Historically associated with the prophet Idris—identified with Enoch in Judeo-Christian texts and lauded in Sufi poetry—it conveys learning, revelation, and spiritual insight. Despite its modest “chart performance” (nine occurrences in 2024, ranked 915th in the U.S.), Idrissa boasts a lineage far older and more storied than most top-ten hits. Its consistent presence—hovering between five and fourteen newborns annually over the past two decades—signals a steady appreciation for names that balance distinctiveness with profound cultural resonance.

Pronunciation

African (Mandinka)

• Pronunced as ee-DREE-suh (/iˈdri.sə/)

• Idris
• Issa