diff --git a/lib/mongoid/extensions/string.rb b/lib/mongoid/extensions/string.rb
index b2e028fe65..5624c7edce 100644
--- a/lib/mongoid/extensions/string.rb
+++ b/lib/mongoid/extensions/string.rb
@@ -63,6 +63,18 @@ def collectionize
         tableize.gsub("/", "_")
       end
 
+      # Is the string a valid value for a Mongoid id?
+      #
+      # @example Is the string an id value?
+      #   "_id".mongoid_id?
+      #
+      # @return [ true | false ] If the string is id or _id.
+      # @deprecated
+      def mongoid_id?
+        self =~ /\A(|_)id\z/
+      end
+      Mongoid.deprecate(self, :mongoid_id?)
+
       # Is the string a number? The literals "NaN", "Infinity", and "-Infinity"
       # are counted as numbers.
       #
diff --git a/lib/mongoid/extensions/symbol.rb b/lib/mongoid/extensions/symbol.rb
index 36e48c68ba..c37536e965 100644
--- a/lib/mongoid/extensions/symbol.rb
+++ b/lib/mongoid/extensions/symbol.rb
@@ -7,6 +7,18 @@ module Extensions
     # Adds type-casting behavior to Symbol class.
     module Symbol
 
+      # Is the symbol a valid value for a Mongoid id?
+      #
+      # @example Is the string an id value?
+      #   :_id.mongoid_id?
+      #
+      # @return [ true | false ] If the symbol is :id or :_id.
+      # @deprecated
+      def mongoid_id?
+        to_s.mongoid_id?
+      end
+      Mongoid.deprecate(self, :mongoid_id?)
+
       module ClassMethods
 
         # Turn the object from the ruby type we deal with to a Mongo friendly