Peruvian newborns named after Haaland as World Cup craze grows

Erling Haaland's stellar performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has inspired Peruvian parents to name hundreds of newborn babies after the Norwegian striker. Peru's national identity registry reports that 468 newborns now carry Haaland's surname, with an additional 91 registered as Erling Haaland.

The 25-year-old forward has been a standout player in the tournament, scoring seven goals in four matches and leading Norway to its first-ever quarter-final appearance. His two goals secured Norway's victory over Brazil, advancing them to a match against England.

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Different football stars serve as inspiration for Peruvians to register their children with these names.

Ivan Torres, a spokesperson for the registry, noted that football stars often serve as inspiration for naming children in Peru. He observed a sharp increase in registrations after the World Cup began and Norway advanced.

This trend is not new in Peru, where football-inspired names are common. The registry data shows thousands of Peruvians named Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Yamal. However, Brazil's Neymar remains the most popular, with over 33,000 namesakes.

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Haaland is also Peruvian.