You’ve seen the headlines. You’ve probably seen the memes. It feels like every few months, we’re all squinting at a screen trying to figure out if Elon Musk just named another human being after a supercomputer or a piece of high-altitude reconnaissance hardware. Honestly, it’s a lot to keep track of. By the start of 2026, the count has reached 14 children.
Fourteen.
It’s not just the sheer number that catches people off guard; it’s the linguistic gymnastics required to read the birth certificates. We’ve moved far beyond the era of "Griffin" and "Damian." Now, we’re in the territory of Sideræl and Techno Mechanicus. If you’re confused, don’t worry. Most of the internet is right there with you.
The First Chapter: Justine Wilson and the Traditional Era
Before the cypher-like names became a global talking point, Musk’s family life looked a bit more... conventional. Sorta. He and his first wife, Canadian author Justine Wilson, had six children together.
Their first son, Nevada Alexander, was born in 2002. Tragically, Nevada passed away at just 10 weeks old from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). It’s a piece of the Musk story that often gets glossed over in the chaos of his Twitter (now X) presence, but it’s a deeply humanizing and painful starting point for his journey into fatherhood.
After the loss of Nevada, the couple turned to IVF. This led to five more sons:
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- Griffin and Vivian Jenna Wilson (born in 2004).
- Kai, Saxon, and Damian (born in 2006).
You might notice Vivian’s name sounds different than the "Xavier" you might have read in older articles. In 2022, upon turning 18, she legally changed her name and gender, explicitly stating her desire to sever all ties with her biological father. She now uses her mother’s maiden name. It’s a sharp reminder that behind the billionaire "Technoking" branding, there are real, complex family dynamics at play.
Then Came Grimes: When Names Became Equations
In 2020, things got weird. When Musk and musician Grimes (Claire Boucher) announced the birth of their first son, the world genuinely thought it was a joke.
X Æ A-12.
It looks like a Wi-Fi password. It sounds like a glitch. But according to Grimes, it’s actually a poem of sorts. The "X" represents the unknown variable. The "Æ" is her "elven" spelling of Ai (which means love and/or Artificial Intelligence). And "A-12" is a nod to the Archangel 12, the precursor to the SR-71 Blackbird—a plane that’s fast, non-violent, and apparently a favorite of the couple.
They eventually had to change the spelling to X Æ A-Xii to comply with California laws that don't allow numbers in names. Basically, they just swapped Arabic numerals for Roman ones. Problem solved.
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Their second child, Exa Dark Sideræl Musk (born via surrogate in 2021), followed a similar logic. "Exa" refers to exaFLOPS (supercomputing power). "Dark" is a tribute to the unknown, specifically dark matter. "Sideræl" is a more "elven" take on sidereal time—the true time of the stars. They call her "Y" for short.
Then there’s Techno Mechanicus, or "Tau." His existence was a secret until Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk dropped in 2023. Tau is a mathematical constant (2π), and honestly, it’s probably the easiest name to say out of the three.
The Shivon Zilis and Ashley St. Clair Additions
While the world was busy decoding Grimes’ naming conventions, Musk was also expanding his family with Shivon Zilis, an executive at his brain-chip company, Neuralink.
In late 2021, twins Strider and Azure were born. Strider is likely a Lord of the Rings reference (Aragorn’s alias), while Azure evokes the blue of the sky.
The growth didn't stop there. By early 2026, we’ve learned of two more children with Zilis: Arcadia (born early 2024) and Seldon Lycurgus (announced in early 2025). Seldon is almost certainly a nod to Hari Seldon, the protagonist of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series, which Musk cites as a major influence. Lycurgus, on the other hand, refers to the legendary lawgiver of Sparta.
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And then there's Romulus. Born in late 2024 to author Ashley St. Clair, Romulus carries the name of one of the legendary founders of Rome. It’s a name that fits the "grand ambition" theme Musk seems to be leaning into lately.
Why Does He Keep Doing This?
People ask "why" all the time. Musk has been vocal about his fear of "population collapse." He genuinely believes that high-IQ individuals should have more children to ensure the future of civilization. Whether you agree with that ideology or find it a bit "sci-fi villain," it explains the sheer volume of elon musk's children names we’re now tracking.
The names themselves? They’re a brand. They represent a blend of:
- Hard Science: Supercomputing, mathematics, and physics.
- Science Fiction: Asimov, Tolkien, and "elven" aesthetics.
- History: Spartan laws and Roman foundations.
How to Actually Pronounce Them
If you ever find yourself at a dinner party needing to pronounce these, here’s the cheat sheet:
- X Æ A-Xii: Pronounced "X Ash A Twelve."
- Exa Dark Sideræl: "Exa Dark Sigh-deer-ee-el."
- Techno Mechanicus: Pretty literal, but his nickname "Tau" rhymes with "how."
Insights for the Curious
If you're trying to keep track of this ever-growing family tree, remember that Musk’s approach to naming isn't just about being "edgy." It’s a reflection of his obsession with the future. For him, a name isn't just a label; it’s a mission statement.
To stay updated on the latest shifts in the Musk family roster, focus on primary sources like official court filings or Musk’s own posts on X. Given his history of keeping births private for months or even years, what we know today might only be part of the story. If you’re researching for a project or just out of curiosity, double-check the timelines—many of these births happened within weeks of each other across different partners, creating a timeline that is as fast-moving as a SpaceX rocket.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Review the Walter Isaacson biography Elon Musk for the first confirmed details on the "secret" children like Tau.
- Monitor public court records in Texas and California, as these have historically been the first places new additions to the family are verified.
- Check Justine Wilson’s public essays for a more grounded perspective on the early years of the Musk family.