Erling Haaland is using 'Braut Haaland' on the back of his shirt at the World Cup.

What's behind the name change?

The 25-year-old's full name is Erling Braut Haaland, with 'Braut' being his mother's surname.

In Norway, middle names are often inherited family surnames, commonly from the mother's side.

Why the different name for Norway?

Haaland has used 'Braut Haaland' in a football context when representing his nation, but not always.

He introduced himself as 'Erling Braut Haaland' to broadcasters before the tournament.

What do the experts say?

Ivar Utne, a former linguistic professor, says around 60 per cent of Norwegians have a middle name that stems from their mother's heritage.

Liv Birgit Christensen, author of Exploring Norwegian Genealogy, says it's a lovely statement from Haaland to pay tribute to his mother.

Haaland is not the only player in the Norway ranks to add a maternal name to the back of their shirts, with Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer doing something similar.

Ajer wears 'Ajer' domestically but dons 'Vassbakk Ajer' for his country, as a tribute to his maternal grandfather.

Haaland was born in Leeds in 2000 and was eligible to represent England, but chose Norway.

On 4 July 2026, Haaland's name change was reported, with the World Cup being the biggest stage on which it has happened.

The use of maternal family names reflects broader changes in Norwegian naming conventions, where preserving both sides of a family's identity has become increasingly common.

Roughly half of women in long-term relationships in Norway marry, and of those who do, around half take their husband's surname, with 46 per cent retaining their maiden name as a middle name.

Haaland's decision to use 'Braut Haaland' on his shirt is a reflection of this shift in naming conventions.

The World Cup is not the first time Haaland has displayed his mother's surname, having done so early in his career and in the return fixtures of Norway's World Cup qualifying campaign.

Haaland scored 16 goals in eight games during the qualifying campaign, with 'Braut Haaland' visible on his shirt in the later matches.

The striker's use of his full name on some of his social media platforms also reflects his desire to pay tribute to his mother.

Haaland told the BBC earlier this year that he was proud of his mother, and the pair were pictured together holding the trophy after Manchester City's Champions League title win in 2023.

The dynamics of Norwegian naming conventions are shifting, with Haaland's decision to use 'Braut Haaland' on his shirt being a notable example of this change.