Elon Musk’s kids’ names explained—the meaning behind X Æ A-12 , Exa Dark Sideræl and more

Elon Musk is widely recognized for his groundbreaking innovations in technology, space exploration, and artificial intelligence. As the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, he has consistently pushed the boundaries of scientific advancement. However, beyond his professional endeavors, Musk is also a father to 14 children, each with a name that reflects his distinctive worldview. His children's names often spark curiosity due to their unconventional nature, drawing influences from mythology, technology, mathematics, and space exploration.
From classic names like Nevada Alexander to futuristic ones such as X Æ A-Xii and Tau Techno Mechanicus, Musk's choices have generated public fascination. Each name carries a unique story, revealing his interests in artificial intelligence, aerospace, and even science fiction. Below are the meanings and origins of the names of Elon Musk's children, offering insights into their significance.


Elon Musk was married to Canadian author Justine Wilson from 2000 to 2008. Together, they had six children, though tragically, their firstborn passed away in infancy.
1. Nevada Alexander Musk (2002)
Nevada Alexander was Musk and Wilson's first child, but he tragically passed away at just 10 weeks old due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

2. Griffin Musk (2004)
Griffin is one of the twins born through in vitro fertilization (IVF).

3. Vivian Jenna Wilson (2004, born Xavier Musk)
Vivian was born as Xavier Musk but later changed her name to Vivian Jenna Wilson in 2022 after legally transitioning. She adopted her mother’s maiden name to distance herself from Musk.

4. Kai Musk (2006)
Kai is one of the triplets born to Musk and Wilson.

5. Saxon Musk (2006)
Saxon is another triplet born in 2006.

6. Damian Musk (2006)
Damian is the third of the triplets.


After his relationship with Justine Wilson, Musk was in a relationship with Canadian musician Grimes (Claire Boucher). The couple has three children together.
7. X Æ A-Xii Musk (2020)
This name gained global attention due to its cryptic nature. Initially, the name was X Æ A-12, but California naming laws required them to change it to X Æ A-Xii.

Musk has stated that the name is pronounced "X Ash A Twelve."
8. Exa Dark Sideræl Musk (2021)
Grimes explained the meaning behind this name in interviews.

Grimes revealed that their daughter’s nickname is Y, as a counterpart to her older brother X.
9. Tau Techno Mechanicus Musk (2022)
The existence of Musk and Grimes’ third child was revealed in Walter Isaacson’s 2023 biography of Musk.

Musk has not publicly commented much on the meaning of this name.

In addition to his children with Justine Wilson and Grimes, Musk also had children with Shivon Zilis, an executive at Neuralink, one of his companies.
10. Strider Musk (2021)
Strider was born as part of a set of twins with Zilis.

11. Azure Musk (2021)
Strider’s twin sibling is named Azure.

12. Arcadia (2024)
Elon Musk’s daughter Arcadia turned one on March 1.

13. Seldon Lycurgus (2005)
On March 1, Shivon Zilis announced on X (formerly Twitter) that she and Musk had welcomed their fourth child, naming their newborn son Seldon Lycurgus.


14. Name not revealed by Ashley St. Clair.

With such unique names for his children, many wonder about the origin of Elon Musk’s own name.
Elon is of Hebrew origin, meaning “oak tree,” symbolizing strength and endurance.
Musk has explained in interviews that he was named after his great-grandfather, who was from the U.S. but worked in Canada as a school superintendent and part-time sheriff.