> At a Glance
> – Hoda Kotb adopted Haley Joy in 2017 and Hope Catherine in 2019 after cancer left her infertile
> – Haley’s name was inspired by Halley’s Comet; Hope’s middle name honors a close friend’s daughter
> – Why it matters: Kotb stepped back from Today in 2024 to prioritize family as Hope continues medical monitoring
Hoda Kotb’s path to motherhood began after her 2007 breast-cancer diagnosis made conception impossible. The former Today anchor now centers her life on daughters Haley, 9, and Hope, 6, who joined her final broadcast alongside Kermit the Frog.
How Haley Joy Arrived
Kotb froze when her adoption-agency contact texted in 2017. She scribbled “11:55-this is the moment everything changes” on a yellow pad before dialing back to hear, “She’s here.” Haley’s first word was the mystery “Bob,” and her first birthday was celebrated early while Kotb reported from the PyeongChang Olympics.
- Name origin: Halley’s Comet-“once in a blue moon something beautiful happens”
- First TV cameo: 2017 baby visit; 2018 International Day of the Girl with Michelle Obama
- Big-sister status: kisses Hope good morning and goodnight, calls her “my friend”
Hope Catherine’s Journey
Kotb told ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman she wanted Haley to have a lifelong teammate; nine months after Haley’s arrival they reapplied. Hope’s April 12, 2019 birth left Kotb feeling her “heart just grew.”
Early 2023 brought a “scary stretch” of ICU stays; Hope is now stable but monitored around the clock. Kotb praises her daughter’s will: “This child is going to have the easiest adulthood because she’s had a tough go early on.”
| Child | Birth/Adoption Date | Name Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Haley | Jan 9, 2017 adopted | Halley’s Comet |
| Hope | Apr 12, 2019 adopted | Symbol of waiting moms; middle name Catherine honors family friend |
Key Takeaways
- Kotb credits Schiffman for giving her courage to adopt both girls
- She sings Rainbow Connection to them nightly-the same song Kermit performed on her last Today show
- Kotb now works a reduced NBC role to give family “a bigger slice of my time pie”
Haley and Hope, bonded by hand-holding and shared giggles, anchor Kotb’s re-centered world.
