Soccer legends baby names
Handpicked for families who want names with roots: the beloved classics, what parents in the culture choose today, and the cool discoveries most US name sites never surface.
Abby father's joy (pet form of Abigail); famously borne by Abby Wambach
Ada noble, nobility; famously borne by first women's Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg
Aitana from the Aitana mountain in Valencia, Spain; famously borne by Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí
Alex defender of mankind (short form of Alexander and Alexandra); famously borne by Alex Morgan
Alexia helper, defender (Greek); famously borne by Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas
Andrés manly, brave (Spanish form of Andrew); famously borne by Andrés Iniesta
Briana noble, strong (feminine of Brian); famously borne by goalkeeper Briana Scurry
Carli free woman (form of Carla); famously borne by Carli Lloyd
Christine follower of Christ (French form of Christina); famously borne by Christine Sinclair, international soccer's all-time leading scorer
Clint settlement on a hill (short form of Clinton); famously borne by US striker Clint Dempsey
Cristiano follower of Christ (Portuguese form of Christian); famously borne by Cristiano Ronaldo
David beloved; famously borne by David Beckham
Didier longed-for, desired (French, from Latin Desiderius); famously borne by Didier Drogba
Diego supplanter (Spanish, from Santiago/James); famously borne by Diego Maradona
Edson son of Ede (English surname); famously the given name of Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento and named after Thomas Edison
Erling descendant of the jarl, heir of the chieftain (Old Norse); famously borne by Erling Haaland
Eusebio pious, devout (from Greek Eusebios); famously borne by Portuguese great Eusébio
Francesco free one (Italian form of Francis); famously borne by Francesco Totti
Franz free man (German form of Francis); famously borne by Franz Beckenbauer
Gareth gentle (Welsh, popularized by Arthurian legend); famously borne by Gareth Bale
George farmer; famously borne by George Best and George Weah
Harry estate ruler (English pet form of Henry); famously borne by Harry Kane
Homare honor, glory (Japanese); famously borne by World Cup winner Homare Sawa
Hope hope (English virtue name); famously borne by goalkeeper Hope Solo
Iker visitation (Basque, honoring the Visitation of Mary); famously borne by goalkeeper Iker Casillas
Johan God is gracious (Dutch and Scandinavian form of John); famously borne by Johan Cruyff
Julie youthful (French form of Julia); famously borne by World Cup winners Julie Foudy and Julie Ertz
Karim generous, noble (Arabic); famously borne by Karim Benzema
Kylian French form of Irish Cillian, traditionally linked to 'little church'; famously borne by Kylian Mbappé
Landon long hill (English surname); famously borne by US star Landon Donovan
Leo lion; famously borne by Leo Messi
Lionel little lion (French diminutive of Leo); famously the full name of Lionel Messi
Luis renowned warrior (Spanish form of Louis); famously borne by Luis Suárez and Luís Figo
Luka man from Lucania (South Slavic form of Luke); famously borne by Luka Modrić
Marta lady of the house (Portuguese and Spanish form of Martha); famously borne by Brazil's six-time world player of the year Marta
Megan pearl (Welsh pet form of Margaret); famously borne by Megan Rapinoe
Mia mine, beloved (Scandinavian and Italian pet form of Maria); famously borne by Mia Hamm
Michelle who is like God (French feminine of Michael); famously borne by Michelle Akers
Mohamed praiseworthy (Arabic); famously borne by Mo Salah
Neymar modern Brazilian coinage, shared with his father Neymar Sr.; famously borne by Neymar Jr.
Paolo small, humble (Italian form of Paul); famously borne by Paolo Maldini
Ricardo brave ruler (Spanish and Portuguese form of Richard); famously the given name of Brazil's Kaká, born Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite
Ronaldo ruler's counselor (Portuguese form of Ronald); famously borne by Brazilian striker Ronaldo and by Cristiano Ronaldo
Sadio West African given name of the Mandé region, meaning uncertain; famously borne by Sadio Mané
Sam short form of Samuel ('God has heard') and Samantha; famously borne by Sam Kerr
Samuel God has heard; famously borne by Samuel Eto'o
Sergio from the Roman family name Sergius, of uncertain meaning; famously borne by Sergio Ramos
Thierry ruler of the people (French form of Theodoric); famously borne by Thierry Henry
Tim honoring God (short form of Timothy); famously borne by US goalkeeper Tim Howard
Trinity triad, the Holy Trinity; famously borne by US winger Trinity Rodman
Xavi new house (Catalan short form of Xavier, from Basque Etxeberria); famously borne by Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernández
Zinedine from Arabic Zayn al-Din, 'ornament of the faith'; famously borne by Zinedine Zidane
Zlatan golden (South Slavic); famously borne by Zlatan Ibrahimović
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