Hundreds Of Peruvian Newborns Named After Norway’s Erling Haaland

Norway striker Erling Haaland has inspired an unexpected baby-naming trend in Peru, with hundreds of parents naming their newborns after the Manchester City forward despite the South American nation not qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.  

Peru’s National Registry of Identification and Civil Status, said 468 babies have been registered with the name Haaland, while another 91 have been given the full name Erling Haaland. 

Most of the registrations were made in the weeks following the start of the tournament as Norway’s impressive World Cup run captured the attention of football fans across the country.  

The 25-year-old striker scored seven goals in four World Cup matches, including a decisive brace against Brazil that helped Norway reach the quarter-finals for the first time in the country’s history.

Norway’s campaign eventually ended with a defeat to England in the last eight.  

The registry’s spokesperson Ivan Torres said football stars have long influenced the names chosen by Peruvian parents.

“Different football stars serve as inspiration for Peruvians to register their children with these names,” he said.  

Peru has a history of naming children after football icons. Registry figures show more than 3,400 people are named Messi, over 1,100 bear the name Cristiano Ronaldo, while Neymar remains the country’s most popular football-inspired name with nearly 34,000 namesakes