Hundreds of Peruvian parents are choosing to name their babies after Norwegian soccer star Erling Haaland. According to Peru’s National Registry of Identification and Civil Status, 468 newborns were registered with the surname ‘Haaland,’ while another 91 babies received the full name ‘Erling Haaland’ during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A Unique Tradition
This phenomenon is part of a uniquely Peruvian tradition of treating soccer’s biggest stars as unlikely godparents to a new generation. More than 33,800 Peruvians are named after Brazilian soccer star Neymar, while over 3,400 carry the name of Argentinian legend Messi.
The name ‘Erling’ is an Old Norse name meaning ‘descendant of a nobleman,’ a fitting name for a player who has become soccer royalty. Peru gives parents broad discretion in naming their children, and names are generally permitted as long as they are not offensive.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
