Gil and Kelly Jo Bates have just welcomed their 40th grandchild into the mix. Much like the Duggars, they first gained national attention on TLC with the 2012 debut of “United Bates of America.” Although the series lasted only one season, the family’s television journey continued on UPtv. Their family reality show, “Bringing Up Bates,” aired for 11 seasons from 2015 to 2021.
While the cameras might have stopped rolling, the Bates family certainly hasn’t stopped growing. Their newest grandchild arrived on April 24, 2026, marking another milestone for the well-known reality TV family. The proud parents of the newest addition just took to social media to reveal her name to fans, too. Read on to discover the name of Gil and Kelly Jo’s 40th grandchild.
Zach Bates and Whitney Bates Reveal the Name of Baby No. 6
Zach Bates, the oldest of the 19 Bates kids, and his wife, Whitney, were the first to make Gil and Kelly Jo grandparents. Their first son, Bradley Gilvin Bates, was born in October 2014, marking the arrival of the very first Bates grandkid. Now, nearly 12 years later, Zach and Whitney are responsible for making Gil and Kelly Jo grandparents for the 40th time.
Zach and Whitney welcomed baby number six into the family on April 24, 2026. They are also the proud parents of Bradley, Kaci, Khloe, Jadon, and Lily.
While Whitney shared adorable photos of their newest addition with fans, the couple waited for a few days before revealing their newest daughter’s name. Luckily for fans, the wait is finally over.
Whitney Bates just took to Instagram, sharing a carousel of sweet photos of the 40th Bates grandchild. The former reality star captioned her post, “Our sweet Ella Jane. We already can’t imagine our lives without you.”
Fans Weigh in on the Name Choice of the 40th Bates Grandchild
As soon as Whitney posted the name reveal on Instagram, fans flooded the comments with supportive messages.
One fan wrote, “Such a cute name. She’s precious.”
A second fan added, “Darling name- love the use of Jane for middle name- Mama Jane will love this. Hope you’re all doing well.”
Another chimed in with, “Love it! I just knew Jane was going to be her middle name. That’s absolutely the sweetest thing to name her after Mama Jane.”
The “Mama Jane” in reference is Zach Bates’ grandmother, Linda Jane Hartsell Bates, who goes by Jane.
Zach’s mom, Kelly Jo, joined in with fans in the comment section, writing, “The most beautiful little angel! So in love with this baby already.”
Despite welcoming 40 grandchildren over the years, Kelly Jo still appears just as ecstatic about grandchild number 40 as she was about the first.
Bates Family Members Share Their Excitement Over Baby No. 40
Kelly Jo Bates is not the only family member celebrating the arrival of grandchild number 40. Zach Bates’s younger brother, Lawson Bates, recently took to Instagram to share his excitement over the newest addition to the family.
In a sweet Instagram Reel, the fourth-oldest Bates sibling shared footage of meeting his newest niece. The former reality star wrote, “I just became an uncle for the 40th time! Congrats, Zach & Whitney! Little Ella Jane is an absolute angel.”
Lawson Bates married his wife, Tiffany Espensen, in May 2022. Espensen was a child actress, having made appearances in multiple Disney Channel shows like “Hannah Montana,” “Zeke and Luther,” and “Good Luck Charlie.” Espensen also landed main roles on “Bucket & Skinner’s Epic Adventures,” “Kirby Buckets,” and “Alexa & Katie.”
Lawson and Tiffany are the proud parents of two boys, William and Theodore. William Bates was born in July 2024, becoming the 30th Bates grandchild. His younger brother, Theodore, was born in December 2025, marking the arrival of the 38th Bates grandchild.
With the arrival of Ella Jane, Gil and Kelly Jo Bates have officially reached another major family milestone. While cameras may no longer follow their day-to-day lives, longtime fans still enjoy keeping up with each new chapter.
