A total of 468 newborn babies in Peru now bear the surname Haaland, including 91 registered with the full name Erling Haaland, as Norway striker Erling Haaland’s exploits at the 2026 FIFA World Cup continue to captivate football fans across the globe.
According to Peru’s national identity registry, the 25-year-old’s remarkable performances have inspired hundreds of parents to name their children after him, The Sun reported on Monday.
The naming trend comes as Haaland enjoys a sensational World Cup campaign, scoring seven goals in four matches and helping Norway reach the quarter-finals for the first time in the nation’s history.
The prolific forward netted both goals in Norway’s historic victory over Brazil to book a last-eight clash with England.
Registry spokesperson Ivan Torres said football stars have long influenced the names Peruvian parents choose for their children.
“Different football stars serve as inspiration for Peruvians to register their children with these names,” Torres told Panamericana Television.
Torres added that most of the babies named after Haaland were registered after the World Cup began, with the number rising sharply following Norway’s qualification for the quarter-finals.
“Haaland is also Peruvian,” he joked.
Football-inspired names have become increasingly popular in Peru over the years.
Registry data shows that 3,402 Peruvians bear the name 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 Yamal after Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
Brazil forward Neymar remains Peru’s most popular football-inspired name, with 33,809 people bearing his name.
