Lima, July 11, 2026
According to Peru's civil registry Reniec, more than 560 people in Peru now carry the name of Norwegian football star Erling Haaland, 468 of them as a first name.
Figures from the registry
According to Peru's civil registry Reniec, more than 560 people in Peru now carry the name of Norwegian football star Erling Haaland, 468 of them as a first name. As the authority announced on social media, 468 Peruvians are now named Haaland. Another 91 babies were even registered under the name Erling Haaland, four of whom carry the full name Erling Braut Haaland. The national civil registry Reniec published the figures on social media, attracting attention beyond Peru.
The authority commented on the trend with a simple sentence: "Haaland is also Peruvian." Authority spokesperson Ivan Torres confirmed the trend to the Peruvian broadcaster "Panamericana Television," stating: "Football stars serve as inspiration for Peruvians to register their children with these names." The namesake effect among newborns has a long tradition in the South American country, Torres said.
Authority's response
Other world stars also appear in the Reniec lists, though with significantly higher numbers. The top figure among current top players is Neymar, whose name is carried by 33,809 people in Peru. Lionel Messi is also popular: 3,402 people are named Messi, 292 of whom even carry the full name Lionel Messi. Cristiano Ronaldo comes in at 1,185 namesakes, while Spanish shooting star Lamine Yamal has 1,241.