In May 2020, Elon Musk and Grimes introduced their baby boy, originally named X Æ A-12, to the world on Twitter. However, they later modified the spelling of his name to comply with California’s legal guidelines, which only allow letters from the English alphabet. The parents agreed on spelling his name as X Æ A-Xii using roman numerals. Grimes explained on Twitter that X represents the unknown variable, Æ is her elven spelling of Ai which stands for love and/or Artificial Intelligence, and A-12 is a reference to the precursor to the SR-17 aircraft known for its speed and non-violent nature.
In March 2022, Grimes announced the birth of their daughter, Exa Dark Sideræl Musk, who was born via surrogate. Grimes shared that the name Exa is a reference to the supercomputing term exaFLOPS, signifying the ability to perform 1 quintillion floating-point operations per second. Dark represents the unknown and absence of photons, while Sideræl is the true time of the universe, star time, and deep space time. Grimes also mentioned that Sideræl is a tribute to her favorite Lord of the Rings character, Galadriel, who chooses to relinquish the ring in the story.
Grimes’ explanation of the names of her children reflects her interest in technology, science, and fantasy themes. By incorporating references to AI, supercomputing, and deep space time, she adds a unique and meaningful touch to their names. The use of roman numerals and unconventional spellings further emphasizes the couple’s creativity and willingness to push boundaries. It also showcases their love for their children and their desire to give them names that are both personal and significant.
The announcement of their daughter’s birth via surrogate adds another layer to their family story. Grimes’ openness about the surrogacy process and the unique name choices for their children highlight their unconventional approach to parenthood. By sharing their personal journey and the reasoning behind their children’s names, they invite curiosity and discussion from the public about their family dynamics and beliefs.
Grimes’ passion for music, art, and technology is evident in the names she and Elon Musk have chosen for their children. By incorporating elements from her favorite song, Archangel, and her interest in celestial themes, she creates a special connection between her children’s names and her personal interests. The decision to use roman numerals, references to science and mythology, and unique pronunciations adds a layer of complexity and depth to the names, reflecting the couple’s multifaceted interests and personalities.
Overall, Grimes and Elon Musk’s choice of names for their children reflects their creativity, love for technology, and appreciation for unconventional ideas. By blending elements of science, fantasy, and personal significance into their children’s names, they create a unique and meaningful legacy for their family. The couple’s openness about their parenting journey, including the use of a surrogate, adds another dimension to their story and showcases their commitment to transparency and authenticity. Through their children’s names, Grimes and Elon Musk leave a lasting impression that captures the essence of their family’s values and passions.
