Erling Haaland’s impressive performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup have inspired hundreds of Peruvian parents to name their newborn babies after the Norway striker.
According to Peru’s national identity registry, 468 newborns have been registered with Haaland’s surname, while another 91 have been given the full name Erling Haaland, The Sun reported on Monday.
The surge follows the 25-year-old’s outstanding World Cup campaign, in which he has scored seven goals in four matches to help Norway reach the quarter-finals for the first time in the nation’s history.
Haaland scored both goals in Norway’s victory over Brazil to seal a last-eight meeting with England.
Registry spokesperson, Ivan Torres, said football stars regularly influence naming trends among Peruvian parents.
“Different football stars serve as inspiration for Peruvians to register their children with these names,” Torres told Panamericana Television.
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He added that most of the babies named after Haaland were registered after the World Cup began, with the number increasing significantly after Norway qualified for the quarter-finals.
“Haaland is also Peruvian,” Torres joked.
Football-inspired names have become increasingly popular in Peru over the years. Registry records show that 3,402 Peruvians are named Messi, including 292 with the full name Lionel Messi.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has 1,185 namesakes in the country, while 1,241 people are named after Spain winger Lamine Yamal.
Brazil forward Neymar remains the most popular football-inspired name, with 33,809 Peruvians bearing his name.
