Nicole Richie's Daughter Harlow Marks 18th Birthday With Striking New Look and Unexpected Name Change

A familiar last name, a milestone birthday, and a quiet shift that did not go unnoticed set social media buzzing this week, as a well-known celebrity family marked a deeply personal moment in a very public way.

The attention centered on a carousel of images shared by Nicole Richie on Instagram on January 12, 2026. The post, spanning years of memories, traced her daughter, Harlow Madden's growth from infancy to young adulthood and quickly drew thousands of reactions from fans who lingered over both the sentiment and the subtle details.

A Visual Timeline of Growing Up

In the caption, Richie wrote, "18 years of you ♥️🎂 @katemaddennn," tagging an account that immediately sparked conversation among followers familiar with her daughter's given name.

The first image showed Richie seated indoors, holding a sleeping newborn Madden close to her chest. She wore a white textured blouse and delicate gold jewelry, with her hair neatly pulled back and a small braid along the side. Baby Madden was dressed in pale pink and rested peacefully against her shoulder, while soft lighting gave the image an intimate, tender feel.

Another image captured a young Madden sitting on a patterned rug beside a large black dog curled closely at her side. Wearing a light, airy dress, the child wrapped her arms around the dog and smiled brightly at the camera as the dog remained calm, creating a warm and affectionate moment.

The seventh slide captured Richie and a small Madden outdoors beneath bright sunlight, both wearing decorative headbands resembling animal ears or floral halos. Sun flares partially washed over the frame, adding a dreamy, playful effect as Richie lifted a hand toward her headband, and the child smiled softly beside her.

The eighth photo showed Richie hugging a young Madden tightly against a backdrop of lush green leaves. Madden's arms were wrapped around the woman’s neck as their faces pressed together, both looking directly at the camera with calm, affectionate expressions that emphasized closeness.

In the tenth frame, a mirror selfie captured Richie and a young Madden indoors. Richie wore a sleeveless patterned dress and sunglasses while holding a phone, and the girl stood beside her in a matching patterned dress layered with a denim jacket. A decorative peacock sculpture stood behind them, adding visual interest.

The 11th photo showed another mirror selfie, this time in a bathroom. Richie wore a sleeveless black top and a braided hairstyle, while a teenage Madden with long pink hair stood slightly behind her in a fitted pink crop top. Both looked toward the mirror in a casual, posed moment.

The final image showed a young Madden standing indoors, holding a drink garnished with a lemon slice. She wore a white long-sleeve top, her long dark hair falling straight over her shoulders. Dim lighting and a subdued background gave the photo a nighttime, social atmosphere as she looked calmly toward the camera.

Fans Zero In on Family Resemblance

As the images circulated, comments poured in across platforms, with many viewers remarking on how closely Richie’s daughter resembles her mother. One commenter on Facebook shared that "She stole Nicole's whole entire face. We named our daughter Harlow as well. As soon as I heard it, I fell in love with the name."

Another commenter on the same post added bluntly, "Joel's genes didnt even try!" in a remark that quickly drew reactions. On Instagram, one person commented under Richie’s post, saying, "I really thought that was an AI-generated picture of Joel with a baby Nicole!!! She's your twin! Gorgeous!" reacting to the striking similarity.

Another Instagram commenter observed, "Oh wow, she really is a mirror image of you," while a separate netizen described Madden in one image by writing, "She looks like a little doll .😍" On Facebook, a viewer echoed the sentiment, stating, "That baby is your clone." Another fan chimed in with a simpler observation, "She looks so much like her mom."

The Name That Prompted Questions

Beyond the visuals, the tagged username in Richie's caption reportedly prompted speculation among fans, many of whom noticed that the account went by "Kate Madden" rather than the name they recognized.

Richie addressed the online chatter days later while speaking exclusively to People at an event in West Hollywood on January 14. She explained that her daughter has long gone by her middle name, saying, "Yeah, she goes by her middle name. She has her whole life."

Richie added that she had not closely followed the reactions under the post but noted that the confusion made sense, "I didn't look, but it makes sense … she goes by her middle name." Her husband, Joel Madden, also joined the celebration, commenting directly on the birthday post with, "That's my girl ❤️✨."

Growing Up in the Spotlight

The birthday milestone comes as Richie has been increasingly open about watching her children, Kate and Sparrow Madden, grow up. In October 2025, she told the magazine that seeing her kids navigate their teenage years feels "like a TV show," as she recognizes similarities to her own youth.

"I very much remember I think now that I'm seeing my kids at an age where I remember everything from that age, so they'll be telling me stories of whatever the comings and goings of them and their friends, and it sounds exactly like what I was going through senior year," she added.

Earlier, in August 2024, Richie shared that she often turns to her daughter for beauty advice, telling the outlet, "I learn everything from her," while admitting her daughter regularly teaches her makeup techniques:

"You would think that I would know how to do my makeup after I have been getting it done for so long, but I'm really bad at it, and she teaches me everything."

Taken together, the birthday tribute offered more than a nostalgic look back. It marked a clear turning point for Richie's daughter, who is stepping into adulthood on her own terms, with a growing sense of individuality that fans quickly noticed.