Kylian, Neymar lead football-inspired baby names across South America
What does a name really represent — a prediction of future success or a tribute to sporting legends?
As the World Cup gets underway on Thursday, thousands of young boys across South America named after football superstars will be eagerly following the performances of the players who inspired their names.
Looking ahead, the next generation of parents may choose names such as Lamine (Yamal of Spain), Ousmane (Dembele of France), Harry (Kane of England), or Vitinha (Portugal), depending on who captures the spotlight during the tournament.
For Ecuador, which is appearing in its fifth World Cup, the most common football-inspired names are not those of local talents like Kendry Páez or Willian Pacho, the Paris Saint-Germain defender and two-time Champions League winner.
Instead, Brazil’s legendary striker Neymar — competing in what is likely his fourth and final World Cup — remains the most influential football name in the country. According to Ecuador’s civil registry, 3,847 children carry his name.
French superstar Kylian Mbappé, who helped France lift the World Cup trophy in 2018, ranks second with more than 2,800 namesakes. Colombia’s captain James Rodríguez follows in third place, with 2,136 children named after him.
The impact of football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is equally evident. Ecuador is home to 1,549 boys named Lionel, 38 named Messi, 178 named Cristiano, and 1,006 named Ronaldo.
In Colombia, however, Mbappé leads the way. Records from 2022 show that 836 children were named Kylian or Mbappé, compared to 269 named Neymar and 220 named Cristiano or Ronaldo.
Back in Brazil, Neymar’s influence is hardly surprising. A 2022 census revealed that 2,443 children were named after the football star, who has represented his country in three World Cup tournaments. Yet Brazilian parents have also embraced the name Kylian (or Killian), with more than 400 children bearing it.
Football-loving Argentina saw a surge in the popularity of the name Lionel in 2023, following Messi’s World Cup triumph that secured the nation’s third world title. However, the trend has gradually declined since then.
Meanwhile, in Chile, one family attracted widespread attention ahead of the 2022 World Cup after naming their newborn Griezmann Mbappé, combining the names of two French football stars.
The child was not alone in carrying a football-inspired name. His brother was named James Modric — a blend of James Rodríguez and Luka Modrić — while cousins in the family included Andres Iniesta, Leonel Messi, and Neymar Ronaldo, all named after some of the sport’s greatest figures.