Madonna's 6 Children: Everything to Know

Get to know pop icon Madonna's six kids: Lourdes, Rocco, David, Mercy, Stella and Estere

Madonna is crazy for her six kids!

The pop icon welcomed her first child, Lourdes, in 1996 and grew her brood 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 children 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.' "

The "Like a Virgin" singer honored all six of her children by getting her first tattoo in December 2020 — each of their initials on her wrist.

Madonna admits that being a mother of six isn't always easy. 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."

Madonna was hospitalized for a "serious bacterial infection" in June 2023.

“As a mother, you can really get caught up in the needs of your children and the seemingly endless giving,” she wrote on Instagram. “But when the chips were down, my children really showed up for me. I saw a side to them I had never seen before. It made all the difference.”

After making a full recovery, Madonna launched her Celebration Tour in October 2023. Opening night took place in London and Lourdes, Mercy, David and the twins made an appearance on stage in support of their mom.

Keep scrolling to get to know all of Madonna's beloved kids.

Lourdes, 27

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 — she was nearly nude and promoting the brand's new handbag collection.

While she admits her famous mom was "a control freak" when she was a kid, she 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."

On Nov. 15, 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.

In February 2023, Lourdes attended the Grammy Awards in an outfit that reminded fans of Jessica Rabbit's iconic ensemble. The "Lock&Key" singer's red dress by AREA featured thousands of crystals and a plunging neckline.

Madonna celebrated her daughter's 27th birthday in October 2023 by sharing a video on Instagram. The video featured clips of Lourdes when she was a little girl, missing her mom and being excited for her return after she finished touring. "And the birthday of my Brave. And. beautiful daughter Lola. 💕💕💕," she wrote in the caption. "So many years later and nothing has changed!"

She finished the post with, "Thank you for choosing me to be your mother! You saved me! Happy Birthday Little Star! ⭐️⭐️⭐️."

Rocco, 23

After splitting from Carlos Leon in May 1997, Madonna began dating director Guy Ritchie in 1998. Their son Rocco Ritchie was born in L.A. on Aug. 11, 2000, and was christened in Scotland at Dornoch Cathedral in December 2000. Madonna and Ritchie tied the knot the next day at Skibo Castle, though the couple later divorced in 2008.

"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. While that caused some tension between Rocco and his mother — and a custody battle between Madonna and Guy — 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 Miami. According to Madonna, the "collection of paintings called ‘Pack A Punch’ [were] inspired by Muay Thai fighters."

David, 18

David Banda 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.

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 told Fallon of David. "It's really irritating. He wears my clothes and looks better in them. He can even wear a dress and look butch."

The Material Girl singer pulled out all the stops for David's 18th birthday bash, which included lots of dancing and 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.

Mercy, 18

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 on June 12, 2009.

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, 11

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.

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 Instagram, including a photo of the twins posing with their siblings Mercy and David 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.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.