World Cup Sparks Football Star Naming Boom in Peru and Beyond
A report from Peru's National Registry reveals that over 500 newborns have been named after Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, reflecting a broader World Cup-inspired naming trend. While Haaland is a new favorite, Brazilian star Neymar leads with 33,812 namesakes, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo (31,634) and Lionel Messi (28,390). The phenomenon has historical roots: during Argentina's 1986 World Cup win, the name 'Diego' surged from 1.5% to 5.5% of births. After the 2022 Qatar World Cup, one in 70 newborns in Messi's home province was named after him. In Brazil, the 2022 census counted 50,538 people named Romario and 31,684 named Riquelme. The trend extends beyond World Cups, as seen in Turkey, but faces legal hurdles—a French court rejected the name 'Griezmann Mbappe' in 2019. The article highlights how football fandom influences cultural naming practices globally.
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