Erling Haaland’s World Cup impact has reached far beyond Norway, with hundreds of newborns in Peru being registered with the name of the Norwegian striker during his team’s run to the quarterfinals.
Peru’s national identity registry said 468 babies in the country now carry Haaland’s surname, while another 91 have been registered with the full name Erling Haaland. Registry spokesperson Ivan Torres said football stars often inspire Peruvian parents when choosing names for their children, adding: “Haaland is also Peruvian.”
The registrations rose in the weeks after the World Cup began and increased further as Norway advanced deeper into the tournament. Haaland became one of the standout figures of the competition after scoring seven goals in four appearances, including both goals in Norway’s historic win over Brazil.
His rise at the tournament has also turned him into one of the World Cup’s biggest social media stories. Haaland’s goals, physical presence and off-field personality have made him a constant subject of memes, fan edits and viral posts, helping push Norway’s unexpected run into the global spotlight.
The Haaland trend follows a familiar pattern in Peru, where football icons have long influenced baby names. The registry said thousands of Peruvians are named after stars including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lamine Yamal and Neymar.
