Nicole Richie Responds to Speculation About Daughter Harlow’s Name Change
Ever since Nicole Richie posted an 18th birthday tribute to her daughter Harlow, who she shares with Joel Madden, people have been speculating that the teen goes by a different name. This is because the teen’s Instagram account is named “Kate Madden.” Now, the proud mom has weighed in on the rumors and officially confirmed that no one in Harlow’s life actually calls her Harlow.
“Yeah, she goes by her middle name,” Richie recently confirmed to PEOPLE. Harlow’s full name is Harlow Winter Kate Richie Madden and, apparently, she likes her middle name Kate better. “She has her whole life,” Richie added.
Kate isn’t the first person to go by her middle name, but it is interesting that by choosing Kate instead of Harlow, she’s sort of bucking the unique celebrity baby name trend (see: Apple, Malibu Barbie, etc.) For anyone pregnant right now, this is a good reminder that sometimes the simple and classic names are better than the wild and stand-out names (not that Harlow necessarily fits that description, but still).
“18 years of you ♥️???? @katemaddennn,” Richie posted on Instagram this week. She included several pictures of her and her daughter throughout the years, including one of Richie holding Kate’s hand while they look at ducks, snuggling with her dad, and more.
The comments were full of love from celebrities. Her dad wrote, “That’s my girl ❤️✨” Joel’s brother Benji Madden commented, “How to make a grown man cry!!! ????????????????????????????❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ love you Kate! You’re a bad ass! Never forget it! Happy 18!! ????????❤️❤️????”
Kate’s grandpa Lionel Richie wrote, “Time flies so fast ????❤️”
Kate Hudson commented, “❤️❤️❤️❤️.” Rachel Zoe said, “????❤️????????”
Richie, who also shares son Sparrow, 16, with Joel, recently opened up about her experience raising teens, which she calls “so wild and fun.”
“I just so clearly remember what it’s like to be a teenager. It feels like it happened yesterday for me,” she told Glamour in 2024. “And they know everything I did. I knew before I had them that I was going to have to be transparent with them about who I was. And I’ve actually found freedom in that. I didn’t want my kids having some big discovery about me.”
“And I’ve always been very open and honest with my kids and hope that they are open and honest with me,” she added.
These celebrity parents are sharing the struggle — and sweetness — of raising teenagers.