Natalie (formerly Nadya) Suleman captured the attention of the world when, on Jan. 26, 2009, the mother of six suddenly became a mother of 14 with the arrival of the first surviving set octuplets ever born.
She was given the pop culture moniker “Octomom,” and her big brood became a favored fodder for magazine features and daytime talk shows. Her story also sparked a global conversation about the ethics of fertility specialist-assisted multiple births.
And then, after their initial fame and the public’s largely critical reaction to Suleman’s family planning, the spotlight faded — for a while.
Now that her octuplets are 16, the spotlight has returned with the Lifetime docuseries “Confessions of Octomom” and the network’s TV movie “I Was Octomom: The Natalie Suleman Story,” so the time is ripe to revisit the children who once made so many headlines.
Who are they? How old are they? Where are they now? Read on to learn more.
Elijah
Born May 20, 2001, Elijah is Suleman’s oldest child.
“You have grown into one of the most humble, kind hearted, hard working, honest human beings I’ve ever known,” mom wrote in an Instagram tribute to celebrate his 22nd birthday. “In spite of experiencing hardship, suffering and loss, you continue to love others and remain steadfast in achieving goals for yourself; all the while making sacrifices for your family, which you prioritize above all else, after God.”
One of Elijah’s standout traits is his generosity, according to Suleman, who said he “would give his last dollars and the shirt off his back to a stranger.”
In “Confessions of Octomom,” Suleman revealed that she often calls Elijah “dad” (and her oldest daughter “mom”), because he’s been such a guiding force in her life and the lives of his siblings.
Amerah
A year after Elijah’s arrival, on July 1, 2002, Suleman gave birth to her first daughter, Amerah.
When marking Amerah’s 21 birthday on social media in 2023, Suleman raved, “You are not only my daughter, but my closest friend, and I cherish every moment we make memories together. You are the exemplification of love, strength, and light; an extraordinary flower that deserves to blossom to any limit you desire.”
In an earlier post, the mother of 14 told her eldest daughter that she “will forever be my baby girl.”
Joshua
In 2003, Suleman welcomed her second son, Joshua (pictured left).
“You are a rare and unique individual, with the most sardonic sense of humor of anyone I’ve ever known,” his mother wrote on Instagram on his 18th birthday. “I love you more than words can express. You are loved and appreciated by us all.”
Joshua is the only non-vegan member of the family, but that’s not the only way in which he differs from his siblings. He’s also the first of Suleman’s children to make her a grandmother.
On Aug. 30, 2024, he and his wife had a child of their own.
Aidan
Aidan is Joshua’s twin brother. In 2019, his mother revealed that he has autism, the severity of which leaves him requiring “total care.”
“Aidan relies on me, his mom, to completely assist him in meeting all his needs in activities of daily living,” she wrote. “Aidan is non-verbal, requires feeding, changing (he is not potty trained), bathing, and one to one supervision, as he has no safety awareness and would walk aimlessly into traffic. I, his mother, am, and always have been, his only care provider.”
She added, “I love him with all my heart, and will care for him until I die.”
Caleb
Three years after the births of Joshua and Aidan, in 2006, Suleman had another set of fraternal twins, one of whom is Caleb.
Caleb is said to prefer to keep his life private, and Suleman has respected that by rarely sharing photos or details about him online.
In one of her few social media posts about the young athlete, shared in 2015, Suleman wrote that she was “so proud of my little soccer player Caleb!”
Calyssa
Calyssa, Caleb’s twin sister, is known for her creative talents.
“Words cannot describe how proud I am to call you my daughter,” Suleman wrote in 2022. “You are a talented writer and artist, and will achieve any goal you set for yourself, as long as you never give up.”
Isaiah
Isaiah was born Jan. 26, 2009, along with his seven siblings who made history and propelled the family into the spotlight.
Like some of his other brothers and sister, Isaiah excels in the kitchen, as he proved on Thanksgiving 2024.
“Your healthy plant based, whole food, nutrient dense creations are compassionate and delicious,” Suleman wrote on Instagram of his and his siblings’ efforts. “We are all grateful and blessed.”
Jeremiah
Another of the octuplets is Jeremiah, pictured left.
According to his mother, the 16-year-old is a lover of raw vegetables, but like Isaiah, he’s pretty good at cooking them, too, when the holidays roll around.
Jonah
Jonah enjoys Saturday game night with his big siblings and fellow octuplets and, apparently, he’s particularly skilled at it.
When he was just 7 years old, his mother shared a photo of him “strategizing his next checker move” in a game against her. In the end, he won.
Josiah
Octuplet Josiah, seen standing to the right of brother Noah, is another one of Suleman’s sporty children, who’s stood out in fitness events over the years.
He, like some of his siblings, prefers his privacy and rarely makes appearances online.
Maliyah
Maliya, like several of the octuplets, is a standout when it comes to cooking. In fact, Suleman has dubbed her and her sister, Nariyah, the “head chefs” of the family.
Makai
Makai, pictured on the right, is practically inseparable from one of his siblings — but it’s not one of his fellow octuplets. Instead, Makai prefers the company of big brother Aidan.
Or as his mother puts it, “Everywhere Aidan goes, Makai follows.”
In a message about their special bond, written in 2017, Suleman noted, “Makia is so connected to his big brother Aidan (who has severe autism and is cognitively one and a half)…watching them together fills my heart like nothing else. ❤️”
Nariyah
Each of the children has their own talents, and for Nariyah, it’s the gift of music.
“Nariyah is a natural and passionate song writer, and has written nearly 20 songs independently,” Suleman shared on Instagram.
Nariyah has been known to rave about her mother, too, telling People in 2025 that Suleman has been both “an amazing mother and father figure for our whole lives.”
Noah
The last of the octuplets is Noah, an animal lover who’s often seen on Suleman’s Instagram account with family cat Penelope in his arms.
He’s also a violin player.
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