Argentina‘s World Cup victory in Qatar has created a sensation there. However, another fact has captured the true fervor surrounding the World Cup.
One in 70 infants born in December 2022 were registered with the names Lionel or Lionela after Albiceleste captain Lionel Messi, according to the Civil Registry of the province of Santa Fe.
With only six kids every month having that name up until September, it amounts to a 700% increase in the popularity of these names for infants.
In just 30 days, that number increased to 49. Additionally, Mariano Galvez, the director of the Santa Fe civil registry, stated on the talkshow Santa Fe LT9 that “the most sought name is Lionel,” adding that “in the previous weeks there were newborns registered with other names of the national team members, such as Julian or Emiliano.”
