How Many Kids Does Nick Cannon Have? 12 Children List

Nick Cannon has never done anything halfway, and his family life is no exception. Between his high-profile marriage to Mariah Carey and the quiet tragedy of losing his youngest son, Cannon has built what may be the most documented modern family in entertainment. The numbers are striking: 12 children with six different mothers, spanning more than a decade. Here’s everything we know about Nick Cannon’s kids, how they’ve come into the world, and what their arrival has meant for their father.

Children: 12 · Baby Mamas: 6 · Oldest Child: Born 2011 · Recent Child: Halo, 2022 · Tragic Loss: Son Zen, 2021

How many baby mamas does Nick Cannon have?

Nick Cannon has fathered children with six different women. These mothers span different periods of his life and represent a range of backgrounds, from a global music superstar to a model and a DJ. The six baby mamas are Mariah Carey, Brittany Bell, Abby De La Rosa, Alyssa Scott, Bre Tiesi, and LaNisha Cole, according to Parade’s comprehensive family breakdown.

Children with Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey is the mother of Cannon’s oldest two children. Their twins Monroe and Moroccan Scott Cannon were born April 30, 2011, during their parents’ marriage. Nick and Mariah were together from 2008 until their divorce was finalized in 2016. Monroe’s name reportedly draws inspiration from Marilyn Monroe, while Moroccan—nicknamed “Roc”—was named after the Moroccan-themed decor in the apartment where Cannon proposed to Carey.

Children with Brittany Bell

Brittany Bell, a model and former girlfriend of Cannon, has three children with him. Their first child, Golden Sagon Cannon, was born in February 2017. She later gave birth to Powerful Queen in December 2020 and Rise Messiah in September 2022. Bell was dating Cannon at the time of Golden’s birth.

Children with Abby De La Rosa

Abby De La Rosa, a DJ, has three children with Nick Cannon. The couple welcomed twins on June 14, 2021, just days before the birth of their son Zen with Alyssa Scott. Abby later gave birth to Beautiful Zeppelin Cannon on November 11, 2022—Nick’s 11th child. Abby has been open about her journey as a mother and her relationship with Cannon.

Other mothers

Alyssa Scott, who appeared on Cannon’s show Wild ‘n Out, is mother to Zen S. Cannon (born June 23, 2021) and Halo Marie Cannon (born December 14, 2022). Bre Tiesi gave birth to Legendary Love Cannon on June 28, 2022. LaNisha Cole welcomed Onyx Ice Cole Cannon on September 14, 2022. As of December 2022, no additional children had been reported, per Parade’s reporting.

What happened to Nick’s son Zen?

Zen S. Cannon was born June 23, 2021, to Alyssa Scott. Nick confirmed fatherhood on Father’s Day 2021 via Instagram. Just five months later, Zen died in December 2021. The cause was a malignant brain tumor, according to Wikipedia and Parade.

Cause of death

Zen succumbed to a malignant brain tumor at five months old. His brief life and sudden death sent shockwaves through Cannon’s public persona and private world. Alyssa Scott publicly honored Zen in the months following his death, posting tributes on social media.

Nick Cannon’s response

Following Zen’s death, Nick Cannon experienced significant depression in late 2021. According to Wikipedia, Cannon briefly experimented with celibacy during this period as a response to his grief. He has spoken publicly about how the loss affected his mental health and his approach to relationships. “Cannon said he briefly experimented with celibacy in late 2021, during a bout with depression following the death of his son,” Wikipedia reports.

The six mothers of all of my children, it was all at a different time in their lives and all for different reasons.

— Nick Cannon

Did Nick Cannon say having 12 children was a response to trauma?

Nick Cannon has publicly discussed the connection between Zen’s death and his subsequent behavior. In interviews, including one on his own YouTube channel, Cannon has acknowledged that his pattern of having children relates to processing personal trauma. While he hasn’t explicitly stated that having 12 children was a deliberate “trauma response,” he has been candid about how Zen’s death shaped his emotional state and decisions during that period.

Public statements

Cannon has been relatively open about his mental health struggles following Zen’s death. Beyond the reported celibacy experiment, he has spoken about depression and the difficulty of processing grief while continuing to work and expand his public life. His willingness to discuss these topics publicly has been notable in an industry often characterized by image management.

Context of revelation

The discussion of Cannon’s trauma response emerged as his family continued to grow in 2022, with five children born that year—including Halo Marie, his 12th child, on December 14, 2022. The contrast between his private grief and public family expansion sparked broader conversations about coping mechanisms and the pressures of celebrity fatherhood.

Why did Nick Cannon leave Mariah Carey?

Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey married in 2008 after years of friendship. Their divorce was filed in 2014 and finalized in 2016. While both parties have been relatively private about the specific reasons for their split, Carey is a global music icon with an established career, while Cannon was building his own multimedia empire. The couple’s busy schedules and different priorities reportedly contributed to the separation.

Divorce timeline

Carey filed for divorce in October 2014. The process was finalized in 2016. Throughout this period, both maintained professional respect for each other and co-parented their twins. Monroe and Moroccan, born April 30, 2011, have remained a consistent part of both parents’ lives despite their separation.

Reasons shared

Neither Cannon nor Carey has publicly detailed the specific reasons for their divorce. What is clear is that both have moved on: Carey remarried and has had additional career milestones, while Cannon’s family has expanded dramatically in the years since. Their twins appear to thrive in both households, with both parents maintaining active roles in their lives.

Celebrating you today.

— Alyssa Scott

What is Nick Cannon diagnosed with?

Nick Cannon has been open about mental health challenges in interviews. Reports have surfaced about diagnoses he has discussed publicly, though details beyond what he has voluntarily shared remain limited. The public discussion of his mental health has coincided with his most difficult personal period—the loss of Zen and the continued expansion of his family.

Narcissistic Personality

Cannon has publicly acknowledged discussing Narcissistic Personality Disorder in media appearances. He has spoken about self-reflection and understanding his own behavioral patterns. While he has addressed this topic, the exact nature and scope of any formal diagnosis remains what he has chosen to share publicly.

Other mental health

Beyond any specific diagnoses, Cannon has been candid about experiencing depression—particularly following Zen’s death. The combination of grief, public scrutiny, and ongoing family expansion has apparently taken an emotional toll that he has acknowledged to interviewers. His willingness to discuss these topics stands out in an industry where mental health discussions remain relatively rare.

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Frequently asked questions

For readers tracking celebrity families, the Nick Cannon story offers a case study in how public and private lives intersect—grief, growth, and an expanding family all playing out in real time. What remains consistent is his engagement with each of his children, whatever the circumstances of their arrivals.