So, you’re wondering exactly how many kids Mariah Carey has. It’s a question that pops up a lot, mostly because her ex-husband, Nick Cannon, seems to be adding a new member to his "Cannon Cartel" every other Tuesday. But when it comes to the Elusive Chanteuse herself, the answer is actually very straightforward.
Mariah Carey has two children.
They aren’t just any kids, though. They are the world-famous "Dem Kids"—twins Monroe and Moroccan Scott Cannon. Born on April 30, 2011, they arrived on a day that was already pretty special for the couple: their third wedding anniversary. Imagine trying to top that as an anniversary gift. Honestly, you can't.
The Story Behind Monroe and Moroccan
Mariah didn't just pick names out of a hat. There’s a lot of meaning baked into those choices.
Monroe Cannon, the daughter, was named after the legendary Marilyn Monroe. Mariah has long been obsessed with the Hollywood icon (she even bought Marilyn’s white baby grand piano at an auction). Monroe doesn't have a middle name because Mariah herself doesn't have one.
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Then you have Moroccan Scott Cannon. The name "Moroccan" comes from the top floor of Mariah’s New York City apartment, which features Moroccan-inspired decor. That’s actually where Nick proposed to her. His middle name, Scott, is Nick’s middle name and his grandmother’s maiden name.
They are teenagers now. Let that sink in for a second. Born in 2011, they hit the big 1-4 in 2025. While Moroccan (often called "Roc") is known for being a bit of a tech whiz and a gamer, Monroe (or "Roe") has already started following in her mother’s footsteps, occasionally joining Mariah on stage to show off some seriously impressive vocal pipes.
Coparenting in the "Cannon" Universe
It’s no secret that Nick Cannon has a lot of children. Like, twelve of them.
Because Nick has ten other kids with several different women, people often get confused about Mariah’s role in all that. To be clear: Mariah is only the mother of the first two. She has stayed remarkably graceful about the whole situation, though she’s dropped some hilarious hints about the complexity of it all.
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In a 2025 interview with Gayle King, Mariah was asked about the coparenting dynamic. Her response? "I kinda feel like it’s best if I don’t talk about him, because he can just be in his own world." She said it with love, but you can tell she’s focused on her own "Christmas Queen" lane.
Monroe recently made headlines by clarifying her own stance on the family tree. On her Instagram Stories, she told her followers, "I only have ONE brother," referring to Moroccan. She acknowledged her half-siblings but noted they are "many, many years younger," highlighting that the twins really are a unit of their own within that massive family network.
Why Mariah’s Parenting Style is Different
Growing up, Mariah didn’t have the most stable home life. She’s been very open in her memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, about the chaos of her childhood. Because of that, she is fiercely protective of Roc and Roe’s peace.
- Stability is key: She’s mentioned that she wants them to feel "seen and heard" in a way she wasn't.
- The "Cool Mom" struggle: She once joked that she wants to be the "cool mom" like in Mean Girls, but realized that "you're never a cool mom" once you have to actually enforce the rules.
- A normal-ish life: Despite the private jets and the mansions, she tries to keep them grounded. They have chores. They have boundaries. Well, as many boundaries as you can have when your mom is the most successful female artist of all time.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that Mariah is part of the "blended family" chaos you see on Nick’s Instagram. While Nick does his best to see all his kids, Mariah keeps her household pretty separate. You won't usually see her at the big group birthday parties with the other mothers.
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She has created a sanctuary for the twins. When they are with her, it’s all about their world—music, travel, and of course, Christmas.
If you're keeping track of the ages for your own trivia night, remember the twins were born in 2011. They are now navigating the world of high school and social media, with Moroccan even getting into live streaming (sometimes with his mom hilariously "crashing" the stream).
If you want to stay updated on the twins' latest ventures—like Monroe's potential music career or Moroccan's latest hobby—keep an eye on Mariah’s social media during the holiday season. That is usually when they are front and center. You can also look into the history of Mariah’s 2020 memoir for more context on why she chose to have kids later in her career after initially thinking she never would.
One thing is for sure: Monroe and Moroccan are the center of Mariah’s universe, no matter how many other "Cannons" are added to the list. They are her "reason to live," and that hasn't changed since the day they were born.