Elon Musk and Grimes introduced their son X Æ A-12 to the world in May 2020, but later changed the spelling of his name to X Æ A-Xii to comply with California’s legal standards. Grimes explained the unique name on Twitter, with X representing the unknown variable, Æ as her elven spelling of Ai (love or Artificial Intelligence), A-12 as a reference to the precursor to their favorite aircraft, the SR-17. She also mentioned that A stands for Archangel, her favorite song, and a rat and sword emoji were included, signifying “Metal rat.”
In March 2022, Grimes announced the birth of their daughter Exa Dark Sideræl Musk, born via surrogate. She explained that Exa is a reference to exaFLOPS, a supercomputing term indicating the ability to perform 1 quintillion floating-point operations per second. Dark is meant to represent the unknown, as the absence of photons, while Sideræl refers to the true time of the universe, star time, and deep space time. Grimes also shared that Sideræl is a nod to her favorite Lord of the Rings character, Galadriel, who chooses to abdicate the ring.
Grimes has been known for her eclectic and innovative approach to naming her children, drawing inspiration from various sources such as music, science, and fantasy literature. She described Dark Sideræl Musk as a representation of the mysteries and beauty of the universe, embracing the unknown and the complexities of space and time. The names she has chosen for her children reflect her creative and unconventional mindset, as well as her interest in technology and science.
The announcement of Exa Dark Sideræl Musk’s birth garnered a mix of reactions from the public, with some praising Grimes’ originality and thoughtfulness in naming her children. Others expressed confusion or skepticism about the unusual names and the reasoning behind them. Grimes has not shied away from controversy in the past and continues to push boundaries with her artistic expression and personal choices, including her children’s names.
Overall, Grimes’ naming choices for her children reflect her unique perspective on the world and her desire to infuse meaning and depth into their identities. By incorporating elements from various disciplines and sources of inspiration, Grimes has created names that are rich in symbolism and reflect her passions and interests. While unconventional, these names showcase Grimes’ creativity and individuality, inviting others to consider new possibilities when it comes to naming and personal expression.
