Over 500 Peruvian babies named after Norwegian soccer star Haaland after legendary World Cup run

Over 500 babies in Peru have been named after Norwegian soccer star Erling Haaland following his performance in the recent FIFA World Cup, according to Peru's National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (Reniec). Specifically, 486 children were named “Haaland” and 91 were named “Erling Haaland.” Haaland scored seven goals in the tournament, captivating fans globally. This trend reflects a broader Peruvian tradition of naming children after popular football figures; for instance, 3,402 Peruvians are named after Lionel Messi and 33,809 after Neymar. Reniec spokesperson Ivan Torres noted, "Different football stars serve as inspiration for Peruvians to register their children with these names."