Guatemala and Kuwait see rise in babies named after World Cup stars

Civil‑registry officials in Kuwait said the excitement surrounding the World Cup is prompting parents to request newborn names that honor football stars, and they expect a noticeable increase in such applications in the coming weeks. Sandra Leticia Urcelay Gutiérrez of Registro Civil No. 9 noted that similar naming spikes have occurred after previous popular cultural events.

Guatemala’s civil‑registry (Renap) released a list of compound names inspired by international footballers that have been registered for newborns. Cristiano Ronaldo leads the list with 207 entries, far ahead of Lionel Messi (13), Kylian Mbappé (9), and others such as Lamine Yamal, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Michael Olise. The data illustrate the broader influence of the 2026 World Cup on naming choices in the country.