Erling Haaland's World Cup success sparks unexpected baby naming trend as more than 500 newborns honor him in Peru

Erling Haaland’s goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup did more than help Norway reach the quarter-finals. They also started an unexpected trend thousands of miles away in Peru. According to Peru’s National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (RENIEC), 468 newborns have been registered with the name “Haaland,” while another 91 were given the full name “Erling Haaland.” That means more than 500 babies now carry the footballer’s name after his standout World Cup performances.

Erling Haaland’s World Cup performances inspired Peruvian parents
Norway enjoyed one of its best World Cup campaigns in years, and Erling Haaland played the biggest role in that success. The striker scored seven goals in five matches and was one of the tournament’s top performers.

His two-goal display against Brazil became one of the biggest talking points of the competition and helped Norway book a place in the quarter-finals, where the team’s run ended with a defeat to England.

As Haaland kept finding the net, his popularity grew well beyond Europe. RENIEC said the number of babies named after him increased during June and July as the World Cup went on.

The biggest jump came after Norway reached the quarter-finals, showing how quickly football success can influence people far from the stadiums. RENIEC spokesperson Iván Torres also pointed to Haaland’s personality as one reason behind the trend.

Along with his goals, the Manchester City forward’s famous robot celebration and his strong presence during the tournament made him a favorite among many football fans in Peru. According to Torres, these qualities helped turn the striker into a cultural talking point during the World Cup.



Peru’s long history of naming babies after football stars continues