Nicole Richie Shares Her Daughter’s New Name as She Embarks on Adulthood

Nicole Richie and her daughter.
Credit :

nicolerichie/Instagram

NEED TO KNOW

• Nicole Richie confirmed that her 18-year-old daughter goes by her middle name, Kate, during an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE on January 14.
• This announcement followed the release of a carousel of photos celebrating her daughter’s milestone birthday, captioned “18 years of you ♥️🎂 @katemaddennn.”
• “She has her whole life,” Richie remarked regarding the name preference.

In response to recent online discussions about her daughter’s name, Nicole Richie addressed the matter during an exclusive interview with PEOPLE. Speaking at an event for the U.S. debut of Australian makeup brand Nude by Nature on January 14, the actress clarified that her daughter Harlow Winter Kate prefers to be known as Kate.

Richie’s Instagram post on January 12 showcased a series of photos highlighting her daughter’s growth over the years. As fans noted, the account she tagged is registered under the name Kate, suggesting the teenager’s preference for this name over her first name, Harlow.

Nicole Richie with her son and daughter Harlow and Sparrow.

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty

“Yeah, she goes by her middle name,” Richie explained at The Edition in West Hollywood, California. She added, “She has her whole life,” in reference to the public’s reactions surrounding her daughter’s name change.

Although she did not closely monitor the reactions to her post, she acknowledged, “It makes sense… she goes by her middle name.”

Richie shares her children—18-year-old Harlow and 16-year-old Sparrow—with Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden. Madden himself responded to the birthday post, expressing his pride with the comment, “That’s my girl ❤️✨.”

Joel Madden’s brother, Benji Madden, also contributed to the conversation, sharing a heartfelt message, “How to make a grown man cry!!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ love you Kate! You’re a bad ass! Never forget it! Happy 18!! 🎉🎉❤️❤️🎉.”

Reflecting on motherhood in an October interview, Richie expressed the joys of watching her children transition into their teenage years. “It’s fun. It’s like a TV show,” she remarked, noting that her experiences mirror stories shared by her kids.

Richie also spoke about her approach to social media in a December 2024 appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, emphasizing the importance of understanding the digital landscape that her children navigate.

Nicole Richie.

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

“The digital world and the real world are very different things, but it’s very real,” Richie noted, acknowledging her efforts to remain connected to her children’s experiences. She emphasized the importance of not being uninformed about the digital landscape, stating that it creates distance from the generation that has grown up in it.

Richie expressed that her children also teach her about style and makeup. “I learn everything from her,” she said of Harlow, humorously reflecting on her own struggles with make-up application despite years in the industry.