David Beckham has admitted he named his third son after Tom Cruise.

The football superstar and wife Victoria became close friends with Cruise in 2003, and the actor was the inspiration behind the naming of little Cruz, who was born in 2005.

David told writer Grant Wahl for his book 'The Beckham Experiment': "When [we] met Tom, I remember turning around to Victoria and saying 'Cruise is a great name, but we could spell it different.'"

David, who at the time was playing for Real Madrid, added: "Also, living in Spain, Cruz is spelt the way it is in Spanish. So that's why we got it."

Although Tom has been very influential in many Beckham decisions, including signing with the Los Angeles Galaxy and hiring the same PR firm as him, one thing he hasn't influenced is the Beckhams' religion.

While Tom and Katie are devout followers of the bizarre sci-fi cult Scientology, David and Victoria prefer to stick to their own beliefs.

Beckham said: "It's something I respect, because Tom's explained to me and Victoria what it's all about. But he's never turned around and said, 'That is what you should be doing,' because he would never do that.

"He and Katie have their beliefs ... but me and Victoria have also got our own."

Take a look at David and other hot hunks in our sexy celeb dads gallery...