Nick Cannon’s role as a father often gets more attention than his career. He has become one of America’s most talked-about celebrity dads, and his family is complex, blended, and rich with stories.
In this article you will learn exactly the names of all his children, who their mothers are, key dates, and why he sometimes forgets names. You’ll also see how Nick reflects on fatherhood now, recent stats, and what lies ahead.
Nick Cannon Kids — How Many and Names
Nick Cannon has fathered 12 children with six different women between 2011 and 2022. One of those children, Zen, tragically passed away in infancy.
Here is the full list of his children by name (living and deceased):
- Monroe Cannon (twin)
- Moroccan Cannon (twin)
- Golden “Sagon” Cannon
- Powerful Queen Cannon
- Zion Mixolydian Cannon
- Zillion Heir Cannon
- Beautiful Zeppelin Cannon
- Legendary Love Cannon
- Onyx Ice Cole Cannon
- Rise Messiah Cannon
- Halo Marie Cannon
- Zen Cannon (deceased)
Which Mothers & Dates
Each child corresponds to a different mother (some share a mother across multiple children). Here’s a breakdown:
- Mariah Carey gave birth to Monroe and Moroccan (twins) on April 30, 2011.
- Brittany Bell is mother to Golden Sagon (Feb 2017), Powerful Queen (Dec 2020), and Rise Messiah (Sept 2022)
- Abby De La Rosa is mother to Zion Mixolydian, Zillion Heir (twins, June 2021) and Beautiful Zeppelin (Nov 2022)
- Alyssa Scott is mother to Halo Marie (Dec 2022) and was mother to Zen, who died at 5 months in 2021 after a brain cancer diagnosis.
- Bre Tiesi is mother to Legendary Love (born mid-2022)
- LaNisha Cole is mother to Onyx Ice Cole (born Sept 2022)
Why He Sometimes Forgets
Despite knowing the names, Nick Cannon has admitted publicly that he occasionally forgets to name two of his children when listing all 12 in interviews. During a sit-down with Bobbi Althoff, he began naming: “Roc, Roe, Golden, Powerful, Rise, Onyx, Legendary, Zion, Zillion, Zen…” then paused and added “I’m missing two.” The two he omitted in that moment were Beautiful and Halo. Also, his brother Gabriel acknowledged he, too, has trouble recalling all 12 names without looking them up.
Nick has offered context: with such a large blended family and overlapping years of births, momentary slips happen. Also, he sometimes claims mis-ordering or mental fatigue cause the omission.
Recent Stats & Insights
- In 2022 alone, he welcomed five children across three different mothers.
- After publicly forgetting names, social media reacted strongly, with many criticizing a perceived lapse in parental attentiveness.
- Nick has pushed back on criticism. He described fatherhood as a “journey” and acknowledges imperfections.
- In recent public reflections, he admitted that having 12 kids stemmed in part from unresolved trauma tied to his 2016 divorce from Mariah Carey and being “frivolous” in his relationships.
- In June 2025, he honored the memory of Zen on what would’ve been his fourth birthday, supporting families affected by childhood cancer through his foundation and a special candle campaign.
- He has implied he might be “done” having kids for now, even if he doesn’t rule it out entirely.
Challenges & Public Perception
Raising 12 children across six relationships puts Cannon under intense spotlight. Critics point to forgetting names as symbolic of neglect, while fans defend the complexity of juggling such a large family. He often counters by noting that love, time, and presence matter more than perfect recall.
The contrast between his public persona—confident, charismatic host—and very human slips when listing names fuels media cycles. But Nick frames fatherhood as evolving: he still studies and adapts, confronting past decisions with newfound introspection.
What’s Next for the Cannon Family
Nick has said in media appearances he likely won’t expand further for now. But he leaves the door slightly open, saying you never really know with life and destiny.
He continues to push philanthropic efforts, especially surrounding Zen’s legacy, and invests more in being present—spending holidays, school events, and creative work that fosters connection.
He also emphasizes the importance of mental health: admitting trauma, seeking therapy, and trying to heal so future decisions aren’t repeated.
Conclusion
Nick Cannon’s family is vast in number, emotion, and complexity. Knowing the list of his 12 children and their birth mothers is just the start. What matters more is how he copes with memory lapses, public scrutiny, and personal growth.
This story is far from static. As he steps into each fathering year anew, how he shows up for each child may define his legacy more than how many he names in one shot.