Football stars spark baby-naming craze in South America
Across South America, football icons are inspiring a new generation of baby names. Names like Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have become especially popular among parents. Even in countries where local stars play, international footballers are the top choices for newborns. The trend highlights the immense influence of global football culture on families across the continent.
Match highlights
- In Ecuador, Neymar is the most popular footballer-inspired name with 3,847 children, while Kylian Mbappe follows with over 2,800.
- Other popular names in Ecuador include James (2,136), Lionel (1,549), Messi (38), Cristiano (178), and Ronaldo (1,006).
- In Colombia, 836 children are named Kylian or Mbappe, ahead of 269 Neymars and 220 Cristianos or Ronaldos, according to figures from 2022.
- In Brazil, 2,443 children are named Neymar and over 400 named Kylian or Killian, based on a 2022 census.
- In Chile, a family made headlines for naming a newborn Griezmann Mbappe, with siblings and cousins named after other football legends.
