By Desire Emmanuel with Agency Reports
A family in Iowa, United States, is being recognised by Guinness World Records for an unusual distinction: five generations having the same birthday, United Press International (UPI) reported.
The Guinness World Record confirmed that the man from Iowa, Fred Harlow and his family officially hold the record for the most generations born on the same day.
Harlow was born on September 14, sharing a birthday with his grandfather, Wilbur; his mother, Addie; his daughter, Emma Bell; and his grandson, Arthur.
“You know, when you have children, yeah, they’re a gift, this is a very unique gift,” Harlow told reporters.
“We always thought it was pretty cool, but we never really — I never thought much of it as far as record holders. Just kind of figured everything happened for a reason.”
Emma Bell said it was only after the birth of her son that they decided to obtain official certification. She had earlier learned the family could tie the record with four generations, but the birth of her second child on September 14, 2025 put them ahead.
“I grew up with my grandma saying ‘You have to have a boy on September 14,'” she said. “Every year, is what she would say. I went early with my first, so I was bound and determined to make it our due date.”
Arthur arrived right on time. Emma said her grandmother was thrilled.
“I think she’d be pretty proud and pretty impressed that we actually made it happen and had it be a boy on the September 14th,” Emma said.
The family said there’s one other aspect to their shared birthday that makes it extra special.
“It starts with Wilber, so it actually goes boy, girl, boy, girl, boy — the entire way through,” Emma said.
