Elon Musk — the billionaire known for building rockets, making electric cars, and dreaming of colonizing Mars — doesn’t just break the mold in business. He does it in parenting, too.

With 14 children and names like X Æ A-Xii, Seldon Lycurgus, and Techno Mechanicus, Musk has turned baby naming into a conversation starter (and sometimes a head-scratcher) for the entire world.

But what do these names really mean? Are they inspired by science fiction, ancient history, or just Musk’s signature sense of humor? Let’s decode the stories behind these one-of-a-kind names — and figure out whether they’re meant to inspire, provoke, or both.

X Æ A-Xii: Cosmic Code or Baby Name?

Born in 2020, X Æ A-Xii is the first son of Elon Musk and musician Grimes. His name became an instant viral sensation — and legal issue — when California officials rejected the original spelling “X Æ A-12” due to special characters. The couple later modified it to comply with state rules.

According to Musk and Grimes:

X represents the unknown variable.

Æ is a symbol often interpreted as shorthand for “Artificial Intelligence,” or as a Latin ligature.

A-12 refers to the Archangel 12 aircraft — a precursor to the SR-71 Blackbird, Musk’s favorite spy plane.

Grimes also added that “A” stood for Archangel, her favorite song.

As for pronunciation? Musk once joked, “Just call him X — that’s easier.”

Now 5 years old, X often appears by his father’s side at public events like a visit to the White House in early 2025 or playing games at Starbase. In many ways, his name reflects Musk’s mindset: always chasing what lies beyond — the unknown, the unconventional, and the future.

Seldon Lycurgus: Sci-Fi Meets Ancient Sparta

One of Musk’s more recent children is Seldon Lycurgus, reportedly born in late 2024 or early 2025 to Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis. The name is a striking blend of futuristic fiction and classical history.

Seldon comes from Hari Seldon, the protagonist of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series — a mathematician who predicts the future of humanity using “psychohistory.”

Lycurgus was a legendary lawmaker in ancient Sparta, known for implementing a brutal but effective legal system that shaped the militaristic culture of the city-state.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Zilis described the child as “a juggernaut with a heart of gold.” The choice seems to reflect Musk’s fascination with visionaries — whether real or fictional — who shape civilizations.

Techno Mechanicus & Exa Dark Sideræl: Naming the Future

If you thought X and Seldon were as far as Musk would go, think again. Enter Techno Mechanicus, also known as Tau, born in 2023, again with Grimes.

Tau is a mathematical constant approximately equal to 6.28 (twice Pi), symbolizing wholeness and circular logic.

Techno Mechanicus evokes the image of a futuristic engineer or advanced tech-being — like something straight out of a sci-fi epic.

Musk once said the name is meant “to remind him of his mission to improve the world.”

Then there’s Exa Dark Sideræl (nicknamed Y), born in 2021, also to Musk and Grimes:

Exa references exaFLOPS, a supercomputing performance metric.

Dark represents dark matter — the mysterious substance that makes up most of the universe.

Sideræl is a reference to “sidereal time,” a timekeeping system used by astronomers.

Y’s name reads like a manifesto — one that reflects Musk and Grimes’ shared obsession with AI, space, and the boundless mysteries of the universe.

Musk: Visionary or Master Troll?

Looking across the roster of names — from X Æ A-Xii to Techno Mechanicus — one thing is clear: Musk is deeply passionate about science, technology, and culture. But opinions differ on why he names his children this way.

Some believe it’s part of his visionary worldview: names that encourage his children to think bigger, dream bolder, and prepare for a future where humanity spans galaxies.

Others suspect he’s just having fun — a digital-age prankster who enjoys keeping the internet off balance. After all, Musk is known for memes, trolling tech pundits, and tweeting with tongue firmly in cheek.

When someone once asked how to pronounce X Æ A-Xii, Musk simply replied, “Just call him X. Easier that way,” along with a laughing emoji.

But despite the humor, there may be something more profound at work.

In 2023, Musk wrote on X:

“Names are meant to inspire. They help kids think beyond this world.”

To Musk, a name isn’t just identity. It’s mission. It’s a prompt to explore the unknown — whether in AI, outer space, or the future of human consciousness.

Which Musk Baby Name Stands Out to You?

Is X Æ A-Xii still the wildest? Or does Seldon Lycurgus strike a deeper chord with its sci-fi and historical blend? And what about Techno Mechanicus — a name that sounds more like an interstellar title than a birth certificate entry?

Whichever one resonates, there’s no denying Musk has changed the way we think about baby names. Love them or not, these names spark discussion — and maybe that’s exactly the point.

Conclusion: Baby Names as a Blueprint for the Future

From X to Y to Tau, Elon Musk’s kids’ names are more than just conversation starters. They’re symbols. Statements. And for Musk, they seem to be pieces of a larger puzzle — one that reflects his belief in a multi-planetary future led by the curious, the bold, and the different.

Whether you see it as inspiration or eccentricity, Elon Musk has succeeded in one thing: getting the world to talk — not just about cars or rockets, but about identity, imagination, and what it means to name a new generation.

Which name is your favorite? And more importantly, would you be brave enough to name your child “X Æ A-Xii”?