All About Madonna's 6 Kids, Lourdes, Rocco, David, Mercy, Stella and Estere
All About Madonna's 6 Kids, Lourdes, Rocco, David, Mercy, Stella and Estere
Emy LaCroix, Nicole PomaricoMon, June 29, 2026 at 8:10 PM UTC
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Madonna with her six childrenCredit: Madonna/Instagram -
Madonna is a mom of six
She welcomed her first child, daughter Lourdes, in 1996
Since then, she has become a mother to five more children: Rocco, David, Mercy, Stella and Estere
Madonna isn't just a pop culture icon — she's also a mom of six.
The legendary singer welcomed her first child, Lourdes, in 1996 and grew her family with the additions of Rocco, David, Mercy and twins Stella and Estere.
In 2017, Madonna appeared on the cover of PEOPLE and opened up about her life at home with her kids and her emotional adoption journey.
"Sometimes I would just close my eyes and just think, 'Why isn't my kitchen filled with dancing children?' There's so many children that need a home," she said. "I thought, 'What am I waiting for? Just do it.' "
Over the years, Madonna has spoken about the challenges she has faced. The singer told Vanity Fair in January 2023 that motherhood "has been the most difficult, the hardest battle," adding, "Today I am still struggling to understand how to be a mother and do my job."
"Because, whoever you are, having children and raising them is a work of art," she continued. "And no one gives you a manual. You have to learn from mistakes. It is a profession that requires a lot of time. And it is exhausting because there is never rest."
It seems rare that all six of Madonna's kids are in the same place at the same time, but the whole family gathered to celebrate the holidays in Morocco together in December 2025.
Here's everything to know about Madonna's children.
Lourdes, 29
Madonna's daughter LourdesCredit: PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP
Madonna and her then-boyfriend, fitness trainer Carlos Leon, welcomed Lourdes Leon on Oct. 14, 1996, in Los Angeles.From the beginning, Madonna's eldest was the light of her life. Madonna wrote "Little Star," a song on her 1998 Grammy-winning album Ray of Light, for her firstborn.Now a successful fashion model in her own right, Lourdes has worked for Rihanna's Savage x Fenty line, Burberry, Marc Jacobs, Swarovski and Mugler, and has been featured in Vogue and Vanity Fair.She's also modeled for the clothing brand Dion Lee. In August 2023, the company released a series of striking images of Lourdes, in which she nearly bared all while promoting the brand's new handbag collection.While she described her mom as "a control freak" during early years, Lourdes has since come to admire "how empowering to other women and ahead of her time she has always been."
"I didn't fully comprehend that until I realized the importance of empowerment and what it means to be a woman," she told Interview Magazine in 2021. "She's probably the hardest worker I've ever seen. I didn't inherit that, unfortunately. I inherited her control issues, but not her work ethic!"
In August 2022, Lourdes followed in her mom's footsteps with the release of her debut single "Lock&Key."
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Madonna with her daughter LourdesCredit: Madonna Instagram
In November 2022, Lourdes showed off her fashion sense by wearing a sheer black catsuit by Mugler at the Thierry Mugler: Couturissime exhibit opening at the Brooklyn Museum. She accessorized the gown with a cross, channeling her mom's iconic "Like A Prayer" era.A few months later, Lourdes made headlines when she arrived late to the Marc Jacobs fashion show in New York City. Despite the paparazzi shouting "let her in," the model was turned away by security.Madonna celebrated her daughter's 27th birthday in October 2023 by sharing a video on Instagram. It featured clips of Lourdes when she was a little girl, missing her mom and being excited for her return after she finished touring."Thank you for choosing me to be your mother! You saved me! Happy Birthday Little Star! ⭐️⭐️⭐️," Madonna wrote in the caption.In a June 2026 interview with Graham Norton on BBC Radio 1, Madonna said that when Lourdes asked her to write a song together, she was hesitant since she didn't want to be seen "as my daughter taking advantage of her privilege." But Madonna said she was "so happy" Lourdes approached her, and the song allowed them both to dive into her experience growing up with "secondhand fame" because of Madonna's career."She had been, through her adolescence, struggling with those feelings for a long time," Madonna said. "She came to me, she said 'Let's write a song together, I think it will be a healing experience.' And you say what you want to say, and I'll say exactly what I want to say."
Rocco, 25
Madonna's son RoccoCredit: Julien Hekimian/Getty
After splitting from Leon in 1997, Madonna began dating director Guy Ritchie in 1998. Their son Rocco Ritchie was born in L.A. on Aug. 11, 2000."She's a good mother … She's very strict but in a good way," Rocco told Ellen DeGeneres of his mom in 2012.
At the time, he was touring with Madonna and completing his school work with a tutor, but he later decided to live with his father in London to attend a traditional school. (Madonna and Ritchie married in 2000 before divorcing in 2008.)While that caused some tension between Rocco and his mother — and a custody battle between Madonna and Ritchie — the two were back on good terms by June 2016.Today, Rocco is a model, actor and talented painter. His most recent art exhibition took place in 2024 in Miami. According to Madonna, the "collection of paintings called ‘Pack A Punch’ [were] inspired by Muay Thai fighters."
David, 20
Madonna's son, DavidCredit: Madonna Instagram
David was born in Malawi on Sept. 24, 2005.Madonna founded her charitable organization Raising Malawi in 2006, and in October of that year, she took a humanitarian trip to the country.While visiting, she and Ritchie decided to adopt 1-year-old David from Home of Hope, an orphanage in the capital city of Lilongwe.The couple faced legal repercussions because Malawi requires adoptive parents to live in the country for at least 18 months to become a resident, and residency is a prerequisite to legal adoption.The adoption was finally approved on May 28, 2008.
David and MadonnaCredit: Cassy Athena/Getty
In 2019, Madonna explained her special connection with David to British Vogue."[He's] the one I have the most in common with," she said. "I feel like he gets me; he has more of my DNA than any of my children so far."As he's grown, David has often been included in Madonna's performances, like when he joined her on stage at her New York City Pride variety show in June 2022, showing off some dance moves and comedy.
Madonna also praised her son's fashion prowess during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in August 2022. "He can put on any outfit and look swag as you know what," she said. "It's really irritating. He wears my clothes and looks better in them."
The Material Girl singer pulled out all the stops for David's 18th birthday bash, which included a cake with his face on it."You are growing into a truly remarkable human being! We are all so proud of you! You light up like the brightest star," Madonna wrote on Instagram.In May 2024, David stopped by Prince's Paisley Park studio while traveling with Madonna on her Celebration tour and shared a now-deleted post from his visit on Instagram."One of the best experiences on this tour. Having the chance to sit in Prince’s studio and play on his stage. A true dream come true 💟💟💟," he wrote.
Mercy, 20
Mercy and MadonnaCredit: madonna/instagram
Chifundo "Mercy" James was born in Malawi on Jan. 22, 2006.In 2008, Madonna settled her divorce from Ritchie, and in May 2009, applied to adopt Mercy as a single mother from an orphanage in Blantyre, Malawi. The High Court initially rejected her application, but she was later approved to adopt Mercy that June.In July 2017, Madonna opened the Mercy James Institute for Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care, the first pediatric surgery and intensive care center in Malawi.Mercy celebrated her 16th birthday in January 2022 at Six Flags Magic Mountain and a Tupac Shakur exhibit. "Happy Birthday Chifundo Mercy James," Madonna wrote on Instagram. "The kindest, most thoughtful, most magical girl on the planet! There is no one like you!"In January 2023, Madonna celebrated Mercy's 17th birthday with two family dinners — one at a fancy restaurant and one at home."Happy birthday Chifundo," the songstress wrote on Instagram. "We love you!!"
Stella and Estere, 13
Stella and EstereCredit: Madonna Instagram
Twins Stella and Estere were born in Malawi on Aug. 24, 2012. Madonna adopted her youngest daughters when they were 5 in February 2017."It's like they were always here," the Swept Away star told PEOPLE. "It didn't take long for them to get acclimated."
"And they've learned, in time, that I'm their mother and nothing is going to change that," she added.As the girls have grown, they've discovered their passions and talents. Madonna has shown off Stella's piano skills; both girls are talented dancers like their older brother.
Madonna with daughters Stella and EstereCredit: Madonna Instagram
When the twins turned 10 in August 2022, the "Material Girl" singer celebrated them with a sweet slideshow of photos and videos on Instagram. "Happy birthday Estere and Stella Mwale! 💖💖 You both bring so much Love- Laughter and Light ✨✨ into all of our lives!! 💕💕," she captioned the post.Madonna also threw the girls an epic wig party to celebrate the occasion. The proud mom shared snaps from the event on social media, including a photo of the twins posing with their siblings David and Mercy while wearing festive wigs.Stella and Estere graduated from elementary school in June 2023."2 Kweens!!!! Happy Graduation!" Madonna wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the twins each wearing a blue cap and gown.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
