559 babies, one football star: Why Erling Haaland turned into Peru’s top baby name choice

The 2026 FIFA World Cup had records, upsets and new stars, but amidst all this something unexpected happened that has taken football fans by a pleasant surprise.

Peru’s National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (RENIEC) reported that 559 newborn babies were named after Norwegian footballer, Erling Haaland during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Out of these 468 had “Haaland” as their surname. Another 91 were given the name “Erling Haaland.”

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These registrations reflect the impact of the football’s biggest tournament inspiring fans in Peru in unique ways.

The figures suggest Peru has embraced Haaland’s global popularity, with hundreds of parents naming their newborns after the Norwegian forward. Earlier, kids in Peru were given names based on football legends such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr.

Every World Cup sees one player capture hearts and for the 2026 FIFA World Cup one name stands out.

Who is Erling Haaland?

At just 26 years old, Erling Braut Haaland has already achieved what most footballers spend their lives chasing.

The Norwegian striker started to get famous at Red Bull Salzburg in Austria. Then he became a star at Borussia Dortmund in Germany. After joining Manchester City in the Premier League, he reached another level, earning global recognition for his incredible goal-scoring, physical strength, and consistent performances.

Off the field, Haaland is still well known. His calm demeanour, low-key personality, and distinctive blond ponytail have made him one of football’s most marketable players with a fan base all over the world, not just in Europe.

For a lot of people Haaland is not just another striker who scores goals. He is the face of the upcoming generation of football players.

How Erling Haaland became the focus at the 2026 World Cup

Erling scored goals, broke through strong defences and helped Norway perform better in the World Cup than they ever did.

The player’s success drew focus from millions of supporters worldwide, making his name popular on many digital platforms. Specifically, Haaland’s scoring, partying and impact on the sport created huge online searches, making headlines worldwide for the Nordic attacker. It is really something that Erling Haaland has inspired people to name their babies after him, which shows how much people know and like him.

It does not happen often where a sports player gets so much attention from people that they end up naming their babies after him. But, Erling Haaland seems to have done so through remarkable performances during the 2026 World Cup, it is like the old ‘Viking’ spirit came back to the world stage.