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’s children’s names explained
Children with Justine Wilson
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).
- Meaning: Nevada is likely inspired by the U.S. state, symbolizing vast landscapes and an adventurous spirit. Alexander is of Greek origin, meaning "defender of the people."
2. Griffin Musk (2004)Griffin is one of the twins born through in vitro fertilization (IVF).
- Meaning: The name Griffin originates from mythology, referring to a legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle, symbolizing strength and wisdom.
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.
- Meaning: Vivian is of Latin origin, meaning “alive” or “full of life.” Jenna is a variant of Jennifer, meaning "white shadow" or "fair one."
4. Kai Musk (2006)Kai is one of the triplets born to Musk and Wilson.
- Meaning: Kai has multiple meanings across different languages—it means “sea” in Hawaiian, “forgiveness” in Japanese, and “victory” in Chinese. Musk has not publicly commented on its inspiration.
5. Saxon Musk (2006)Saxon is another triplet born in 2006.
- Meaning: Saxon likely refers to the Germanic tribe known for their conquests in Europe, particularly in England. The name symbolizes strength and resilience.
6. Damian Musk (2006)Damian is the third of the triplets.
- Meaning: Damian comes from the Greek Damianos, meaning “to tame” or “subdue.”
Children with Grimes (Claire Boucher)
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.
- Meaning:
- X represents "the unknown variable."
- Æ is an elven spelling of “AI,” which stands for Artificial Intelligence and the word "love" in some languages.
- A-Xii references the Archangel-12, a precursor to the SR-71 Blackbird—an advanced reconnaissance aircraft known for its speed.
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.
- Meaning:
- Exa refers to exaFLOP, a term used in supercomputing.
- Dark represents the unknown, specifically dark matter.
- Sideræl (pronounced "sigh-deer-ee-el") refers to sidereal time, which contrasts human time with cosmic time.
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.
- Meaning:
- Tau is a mathematical term representing the constant 2π (approximately 6.28).
- Techno Mechanicus reflects a combination of technology and mechanics.
Musk has not publicly commented much on the meaning of this name.
Children with Shivon Zilis
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.
- Meaning: Strider is a reference to the alias of Aragorn, a character from The Lord of the Rings. It signifies a traveler or warrior.
11. Azure Musk (2021)Strider’s twin sibling is named Azure.
- Meaning: Azure refers to the deep blue color of the sky and sea. The name symbolizes calmness, depth, and vastness.
12. Arcadia (2024)Elon Musk’s daughter Arcadia turned one on March 1.
- Meaning: Arcadia is a noun referring to a serene and idyllic place characterized by tranquility, simplicity, and innocence.
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.
- Meaning: The name Seldon Lycurgus appears to suggest a rigid, militaristic approach to governance.
Alleged child with Ashley St. Clair
14. Name not revealed by Ashley St. Clair.Meaning behind Elon Musk’s own name
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.
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