Elon Musk and Grimes Reveal Meaning Behind Unique Baby Names

Elon Musk and musician Grimes have captivated public attention with the unique names of their two children. Their son, X Æ A-Xii, was introduced to the world in May 2020. Their daughter, Exa Dark Sideræl Musk, was born via surrogate in 2022.

The unconventional names required immediate adjustments due to legal naming laws. They also sparked widespread curiosity and online discussion. Each name holds a deeply personal and technological meaning for the couple.

Decoding the Name X Æ A-Xii

The name of their first child is a collection of symbols and letters. According to Grimes, “X” represents the unknown variable. The character “Æ” is her elven spelling of Ai, meaning love and Artificial Intelligence.

The “A-12” component refers to the Archangel aircraft, a precursor to the SR-71. Grimes described the Lockheed A-12 as their favorite aircraft. She noted it is great in battle but non-violent, with an emphasis on speed over weapons.

The Significance of Exa Dark Sideræl

The name of their daughter continues the couple’s thematic choices. “Exa” is a reference to the supercomputing term exaFLOPS. This term denotes the ability to perform one quintillion calculations per second.

“Dark” signifies the unknown and the mystery of dark matter. “Sideræl,” pronounced “sigh-deer-ee-el,” means “star time” or deep space time. Grimes also linked it to her favorite Lord of the Rings character, Galadriel.

The unique baby names chosen by Elon Musk and Grimes reflect a blend of technology, science fiction, and personal philosophy. They continue to generate significant public interest and debate worldwide.

Thought you’d like to know

Q1: Why did they change their son’s name?

They modified the spelling from X Æ A-12 to X Æ A-Xii. This change was made to comply with California law, which only allows letters from the English alphabet in names.

Q2: How do you pronounce X Æ A-Xii?

The couple has stated it is pronounced “X Ash A Twelve.” The “Æ” character is spoken as “Ash,” a common phonetic for that symbol.

Q3: What does the name Exa Dark Sideræl mean?

“Exa” refers to a supercomputing term. “Dark” represents the unknown of dark matter, and “Sideræl” means true, star-based universal time.

Q4: How many children do Elon Musk and Grimes have?

The couple has two children together. Their son, X Æ A-Xii, was born in 2020. Their daughter, Exa Dark Sideræl, was born via surrogate in 2022.

Q5: Are Elon Musk and Grimes still together?

No, the couple has separated. They continue to co-parent their two children following their split.