We’ve all seen over-the-top fans before – scarves in July, club tattoos on forearms, the annual emotional collapse during derby day. But some supporters take it even further.
For these six families, a simple replica shirt just wasn’t enough. They immortalised their footballing loyalties in the most permanent way possible: by naming their children after their favorite clubs and players.
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Let’s meet the kids whose birth certificates read more like team sheets.
Burnley
Jensen Jay Alexander Bikey Carlisle Duff Elliot Fox Iwelumo Marney Mears Paterson Thompson Wallace Preston – yes, that is one child’s full name – made his Turf Moor debut at just eight days old.
His parents, Stephen and Amanda Preston, already had six kids between them and decided to do something a bit different for their final child.
Stephen explained, “We had already decided to call him Jensen as he is Amanda’s favourite player, but we couldn’t decide on a middle name so we thought why not go for the whole team.”
And they really did – Jensen’s name contains the entire Burnley squad from that season.
Arsenal
Lanesra sounds like a sleek, futuristic name. Turns out, it’s just Arsenal spelled backwards – and the mum had no idea.
She only found out two years later that her husband had sneakily named their daughter after his beloved club.
It’s creative, it’s devious, and honestly, it’s kind of brilliant. Somewhere out there is a little girl named after Dennis Bergkamp’s old stomping ground and she doesn’t even know it.
Liverpool
In 2015, a Liverpool-obsessed couple in Norway named their baby girl YNWA – pronounced “Yee-nwa” – after the iconic anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone.
The name came from a place of love and resilience. Their daughter faced serious health complications at birth and, fearing the worst, they chose a name that would remind her she would always have her parents by her side.
They told Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet, “It symbolises that her mum and dad will always be here for her.”
Now that’s what you call walking through a storm with your head held high.
Leeds United
Dominic Andrew Lukic Newsome Fairclough Whyte Dorigo McAllister Batty Strachan Speed Chapman Cantona Cazaux – yes, really – was named after the entire starting XI from Leeds United’s title-winning 1991-92 season.
It gets better. His parents actually wrote to manager Howard Wilkinson asking for permission to use the names. Wilkinson asked the players and they all gave the thumbs up.
But there’s a twist: Dominic grew up and decided to support Arsenal. The ultimate plot twist in a tale that began with 13 middle names.
Rangers
Tam Fox’s name turned heads the day he was born – mostly because it required an entire front page to fit.
His full name? Thomas Martin Johansen Provan Jardine McKinnon Greig Henderson Willoughby Miller Smith Wilson Bulman. He was named after the Rangers side that beat Ayr United 4-1 on March 18, 1967 – the day he was born.
Now retired, Tam recalls, “It’s been a great thing for me over the years and has caused a good few laughs. But there was an occasion when I was younger when the police pulled me over in the street.
“They asked my name and, when I told them, they didn’t see the funny side. They didn’t believe me and took me down the station, phoned my mum and asked, ‘Does he have any middle names?’ She just replied, ‘Yes – but I hope you don’t expect me to remember them.’”
The name still causes confusion at airports, but Tam wouldn’t have it any other way.
Millwall
Mike Bloomfield took football dedication to covert levels. The Croydon-based builder, who lives near Selhurst Park, registered his son’s name without telling his wife.
The name? Bermondsey Millwall Den Bloomfield – a tribute to the club, the stadium, and his roots.
“We wanted a name that stuck out,” Mike explained. “I was born and bred in Bermondsey and Millwall has always been my football team. Den was my wife’s father’s name too.”
Luckily for him, the gamble paid off and his wife grew to like the name he had picked for their son.
So, next time you think naming your dog Messi is a bold move, just remember – somewhere out there is a kid named after the entire Leeds midfield. Football truly is life.