468 Peruvian babies named Haaland as Norway striker's World Cup heroics spark naming frenzy
The Norwegian striker's seven-goal World Cup run has inspired parents across the Andean nation, with 91 children given the full name Erling Haaland and four registered as Erling Braut Haaland.
Peru's national registry has reported a surge in newborns named after Norwegian striker Erling Haaland during the 2026 World Cup in North America. The 25-year-old Manchester City forward, who has powered Norway to a surprise quarterfinal berth with seven goals, has become an unlikely naming inspiration thousands of miles from Scandinavia. Peru did not qualify for the tournament, but the football-mad Andean nation has been tracking Haaland's performances closely, and the registry data proves it.
468 Haalands and counting
The national civil registry told Panamericana Television on Friday that 468 children have been registered with the first name Haaland since the World Cup began. An additional 91 newborns carry the full name Erling Haaland, and four were given the player's complete name, Erling Braut Haaland. Registry spokesperson Ivan Torres confirmed the figures.
Football stars serve as inspiration for Peruvians to register their children with these names. Haaland is also Peruvian now.
A tradition of football namesakes
Haaland is far from the first footballer to leave a mark on Peru's birth registries. The country has a long-standing tradition of naming children after the world's biggest players. According to registry data, 3,402 people in Peru carry the name Messi, with 292 of them bearing the full name Lionel Messi. Cristiano Ronaldo has 1,185 Peruvian namesakes, while 1,241 people are named after Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal.
The most dominant figure in the registry remains Brazilian superstar Neymar. A staggering 33,809 Peruvians carry his name, a number that dwarfs all other football-inspired registrations combined.
- Neymar
- 33809 registrations
- Messi
- 3402 registrations
- Lamine Yamal
- 1241 registrations
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- 1185 registrations
- Haaland
- 468 registrations
Seven-goal haul fuels the frenzy
Haaland's rise to cult status in Peru has been driven by his performances on the pitch. Norway was not considered a serious contender heading into the tournament, but the striker's seven goals have changed the calculus entirely. His tally places him among the leading scorers of the competition and carried his team past Brazil in the round of 16, a result that sent shockwaves through the tournament and, apparently, through Peruvian maternity wards.
Norwegian broadcaster RPP reported that retail demand for Haaland jerseys has surged in Peru, with shirts depicting him in Viking pose or performing the collective Viking row celebration, made famous after the Brazil victory, selling particularly well.
England quarterfinal tonight
Norway now faces England in the quarterfinals on Saturday night in Miami. The match kicks off at 23:00 CEST, with the winner advancing to face Argentina in the semifinals in Switzerland. Haaland's form makes Norway a genuine threat, and the prospect of a semifinal clash with Lionel Messi's Argentina has added further intrigue.
Kane: a machine, a beast
England captain Harry Kane spoke with undisguised respect about his opponent ahead of the Miami showdown.
Erling is incredible, his record speaks for itself. Physically he is a machine, a beast. His finishing is at the highest level, he is simply a fantastic player.
The Three Lions will need to contain Haaland if they hope to reach the last four, and Kane's words suggest England's preparations have been built around neutralizing the Norwegian's threat. Whether Peru's registries will be adding still more Haalands after Saturday night may depend on the outcome.
