New research has revealed the most popular baby names shared by players in the US World Cup squad, with Sebastian ranking number one.
Researchers at Japanese iGaming hub eSportstars.io analyzed newly released Social Security Administration baby name data for 2025 and matched it against the first names of players named in the US World Cup squad. By comparing the two datasets, researchers identified which squad names are proving most popular among the newest generation of American boys.
Popularity of US World Cup squad names in the US
1. Sebastian (8,562 baby boys)
Sebastian is the most popular first name among all players in the US World Cup squad, with 8,562 baby boys given the name in 2025. Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter shares the name. Originally a Greek name meaning "venerable," Sebastian has transitioned from a classic European choice to a popular American name.
2. Alexander (7,517 baby boys)
Alexander was given to 7,517 baby boys in the US in 2025. Defender Alex Freeman shares the name, which derives from the Greek Aléxandros, meaning "defender of men," fitting for a World Cup defender.
3. Joseph (7,223 baby boys)
Joseph was given to 7,223 baby boys in the US in 2025, and defender Joe Scally shares the name. A biblical name of Hebrew origin meaning "God will increase," Joseph is one of the most popular names in American history.
4. Matthew (7,078 baby boys)
Matthew was given to 7,078 baby boys in 2025. Two goalkeepers on the World Cup squad, Matt Turner and Matt Freese, share the name. Matthew comes from the Hebrew Matityahu, meaning "gift of God," and is a top choice among American parents.
5. Miles (6,611 baby boys)
Miles was given to 6,611 baby boys in the US in 2025, and defender Miles Robinson shares the name. The name Miles has roots in both Latin (meaning "soldier") and Germanic traditions, and is evidently widely popular in the US.
6. Christopher (5,054 baby boys)
Christopher was given to 5,054 baby boys in 2025. This name is shared by defender Chris Richards and goalkeeper Chris Brady. Christopher derives from the Greek Christophoros, meaning "Christ-bearer," and remains a classic choice for parents nationwide.
7. Weston (4,660 baby boys)
Weston was given to 4,660 baby boys in the US in 2025, and is shared by midfielder Weston McKennie. Weston is an English surname-turned-first-name meaning "western town.”
8. Christian (4,247 baby boys)
Christian was given to 4,247 baby boys in 2025. The name is shared by midfielder Christian Pulisic. Meaning "follower of Christ," the name has been a consistent favorite in the US.
9. Giovanni (2,951 baby boys)
Giovanni was given to 2,951 baby boys in the US in 2025. Midfielder Gio Reyna shares the name. This Italian name translates to "God is gracious" and has been consistently popular in the US.
10. Alejandro (1,992 baby boys)
Alejandro was given to 1,992 baby boys in the US in 2025. Midfielder Alejandro Zendejas shares the name. Alejandro is the Spanish form of Alexander, and it is widely popular in the US.
Defenders Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest, as well as forward Haji Wright, don’t share first names with any baby boys born in the US in 2025, making them the rarest names on the team.
Hana Suzuki, content manager at eSportstars.io, has commented:
"While names like Sebastian and Alexander are extremely popular choices for parents in America, we see a massive drop-off when it comes to the more unique names on the team. Players like Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest are well-known among soccer fans, but their specific first names haven't yet crossed over into baby name popularity.
“The name Sebastian was the 14th most common baby boy name in the US in 2025, while Alexander was 27th and Joseph was 32nd, which goes to show how popular these names are.
"In one locker room, you have Hebrew, Greek, Spanish, Yoruba, and Arabic name origins, highlighting the different backgrounds of the players on the squad, which is something to be celebrated.
“It will be interesting to see how the World Cup may inspire baby names in 2026. We might expect to see a surge in popularity of these names among soccer fans nationwide.”
Post courtesy https://esportstars.io/
Source: Social Security Administration
Methodology:
Names given to all baby boys born in the US in 2025 were gathered from the Social Security Administration. These names were compared to the full first names of each soccer player on the World Cup squad for 2026 to reveal which players have the most popular names.
Note: The SSA does not publish names given to fewer than five babies in a given year, to protect privacy. Names listed with a frequency of 0 could potentially belong to up to four babies born in 2025; however, there is no available data to confirm this.
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