Elon Musk Baby Name Explained: Why the Tech Giant Chooses Such Wild Monikers

Elon Musk Baby Name Explained: Why the Tech Giant Chooses Such Wild Monikers

Elon Musk has a lot of kids. Like, a lot. As of early 2026, the count stands at 14 known children, and if there’s one thing that consistently breaks the internet more than a SpaceX launch, it’s the reveal of a new elon musk baby name.

People usually react with a mix of "Wait, is that a typo?" and "How do you even say that?" Honestly, it’s become a bit of a sport. Whether it’s a string of Roman numerals or a reference to a Cold War-era spy plane, these names aren't just random keystrokes. They are a weird, hyper-specific window into how Musk views the world—part sci-fi novel, part physics textbook, and part Spartan history.

The "X" Era: When Names Became Equations

The world collectively lost its mind in 2020 when Musk and musician Grimes announced their first son: X Æ A-12. It sounded less like a person and more like a password for a secure server. Because of California’s strict naming laws—which don’t allow numbers—they eventually had to pivot to X Æ A-Xii.

So, what does it actually mean?

Grimes broke it down on what was then Twitter. The X is the "unknown variable." Classic math stuff. The Æ is her "elven spelling of AI" (which apparently also means love in some languages). Then you’ve got A-Xii, a nod to the Archangel-12. That was the precursor to the SR-71 Blackbird, which Musk calls the "coolest plane ever." No weapons, no defenses, just pure speed.

It’s an aggressive amount of symbolism for a toddler.

👉 See also: Mara Wilson and Ben Shapiro: The Family Feud Most People Get Wrong

Then came the second child with Grimes, a daughter named Exa Dark Sideræl Musk. They call her "Y" for short, which feels mercifully simple by comparison.

  • Exa refers to exaFLOPS, a term for supercomputing power.
  • Dark is a tribute to the "unknown" and dark matter—the stuff we can’t see but know is there.
  • Sideræl (pronounced sigh-deer-ee-el) is a more "elven" take on sidereal time, which is basically star time rather than Earth time.

Then, just when we thought we’d seen it all, a third child with Grimes was revealed in Walter Isaacson’s biography: Techno Mechanicus, nicknamed Tau. If you’ve ever taken a high-level math class, you know Tau is the mathematical constant representing $2\pi$, roughly $6.28$. It’s the "better" version of Pi, according to some math enthusiasts.

While the Grimes names lean into "cyber-elf" territory, Musk’s children with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis follow a slightly different vibe. They’ve got four kids together now, and the names are a heavy mix of J.R.R. Tolkien and Nobel Prize-winning science.

The twins, born in 2021, are Strider Sekhar Sirius and Comet Azure Astra Alice.

Wait, Strider? Yeah, it’s a Lord of the Rings reference. Strider is the alias for Aragorn. The middle name Sekhar is actually a tribute to Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, the astrophysicist who won a Nobel Prize for his work on how stars evolve. It’s a cool nod to Zilis’s Indian heritage too.

✨ Don't miss: How Tall is Tim Curry? What Fans Often Get Wrong About the Legend's Height

Then you have Azure, which Musk recently clarified was inspired by a powerful spell in the video game Elden Ring. It’s called Comet Azur in the game, hence the full name.

The Newest Additions (2024-2025)

The family expanded even more recently.

  1. Arcadia: Born in February 2024. The name literally means a serene, idyllic place. It’s almost surprisingly... normal? Compared to the others, at least.
  2. Seldon Lycurgus: Announced in early 2025. This one is pure "Musk." Seldon is a direct reference to Hari Seldon, the protagonist of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series (a series Musk has cited as a major influence on his life). Lycurgus was the legendary lawgiver of Sparta.

If you're keeping track, that's a lot of weight to put on a birth certificate.

Why Does He Do It?

It's easy to dismiss these as billionaire eccentricities, but there's a philosophy here. Musk is a self-proclaimed "pronatalist." He genuinely believes that if smart people don't have more kids, civilization will collapse. By giving them names rooted in deep space, high-level math, and ancient history, he’s essentially "branding" them with his own mission before they can even walk.

He’s not just picking names; he’s building a legacy that feels like a sci-fi franchise.

🔗 Read more: Brandi Love Explained: Why the Businesswoman and Adult Icon Still Matters in 2026

The Practical Side of a Not-So-Practical Name

If you’re looking at these names and thinking about your own family, there are a few takeaways that aren't quite as "out there" as naming your kid after a supercomputer.

Middle names are for tributes. Musk often uses middle names to honor people he admires, like physicists or historical figures. Even if "Techno" isn't your speed, using a middle name to connect a child to a meaningful intellectual legacy is a solid move.

Check your local laws. The "A-12" to "A-Xii" shift is a reminder that most states (especially California) have very specific rules. You usually can't use numbers, symbols, or certain accents. If you’re going for a unique elon musk baby name vibe, stick to letters to avoid a headache at the hospital.

Think about nicknames. Even the man who named his kid after a mathematical constant uses nicknames. "X," "Y," and "Tau" make these cosmic names actually usable in daily life.

Ultimately, these names serve as a constant reminder that Elon Musk doesn't care about "normal." Whether that's a good thing for the kids is something only time—or maybe sidereal time—will tell.

If you're considering a unique name for your own child, start by exploring historical or scientific figures that actually mean something to you. Use a middle name for the "wild" choice and keep the first name relatively easy to spell to save your kid a lifetime of correcting substitute teachers. It's about finding the balance between a name that has a story and a name that actually functions in the real world.