Erling Haaland's phenomenal performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup sparked an unexpected cultural trend in South America. In Peru, where the final stages of the tournament caused a genuine frenzy, the name of the Norwegian striker became one of the most popular choices for newborns.

National Registry Statistics

Peru's National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (RENIEC) recorded a sharp spike in the popularity of the name "Haaland." According to the agency's official spokesperson, Ivan Torres, following the start of the World Cup, parents began en masse naming their children after the leader of the Norwegian national team.

The official statistics look as follows:

  • A total of 468 children were given the name "Haaland".
  • 91 children were officially registered with the full name "Erling Haaland".

Peruvian legislation allows citizens to freely choose names for their offspring, provided they do not contain an offensive subtext. The registry representative reacted to this wave with irony, noting that thanks to such a large number of people bearing the surname, Haaland has now become "a bit Peruvian".

Haaland vs. Legends: Who Leads the Rankings

Despite the impressive growth in popularity, the Norwegian has not yet overtaken the classics of world football in the country's "football names ranking." The absolute leader among Peruvian parents remains the Brazilian Neymar — his name is borne by 33,809 citizens of the country.

The Argentine Lionel Messi also demonstrates sustained interest: various variations of his name and surname are recorded for 3,402 people. 1,185 children were named after Cristiano Ronaldo, while Spanish talent Lamine Yamal became an idol for 1,241 children.

Sports Context

The surge of interest in Haaland is inextricably linked to his performance at the tournament. The Norwegian national team demonstrated sensational form, knocking out the reigning world champions — the Brazilian team. Ultimately, the Scandinavians lost in the quarter-finals to the English team, but Erling Haaland himself cemented his status as one of the top scorers of the championship.