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Elon Musk Kids Names: Full List and Pronunciation

Noah Daniel Mercer Mitchell • 2026-06-23 • Reviewed by Daniel Mercer

Few things spark curiosity quite like the names Elon Musk has chosen for his children. From the nearly unpronounceable X Æ A-12 to Techno Mechanicus, this guide lists all 14 children with pronunciation and verified details from official sources.

Total children: 14 · Mothers: 3 (Justine Musk, Grimes, Shivon Zilis) · Most unusual name: X Æ A-12 Musk · Pronunciation of X Æ A-12: Ex-Ash-A-Twelve · First child: Nevada Alexander Musk (2002, deceased) · Most recent child: Romulus Musk (2024)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact birth order of the last three children (per Reuters)
  • Full meaning of X Æ A-12 (multiple interpretations from Grimes, reported by CNN)
3Timeline signal
  • First child born 2002; most recent 2024 (per TODAY)
  • Twins and triplets from 2004 and 2006 (per TODAY)
4What’s next
Legal note: California law required Musk and Grimes to change X Æ A-12 to X Æ A-Xii because hyphens and numbers are not permitted in official names. BBC News documented the change.

Six key facts at a glance:

Attribute Value
Total children 14
Mothers 3
First child Nevada Alexander Musk (b. 2002, d. 2002)
Oldest living Vivian Jenna Wilson (b. 2004)
Youngest Romulus Musk (b. 2024)
Most debated name X Æ A-12 Musk

What are Elon Musk’s 14 kids’ names?

The complete list, sorted by birth order, reveals a mix of conventional and deeply unconventional names.

Full list by birth order

  • Nevada Alexander Musk (2002, deceased)
  • Vivian Jenna Wilson (formerly Xavier, born 2004)
  • Griffin Musk (2004, twin of Vivian)
  • Kai Musk (2006, triplet)
  • Saxon Musk (2006, triplet)
  • Damian Musk (2006, triplet)
  • X Æ A-12 Musk (2020)
  • Exa Dark Sideræl Musk (2021)
  • Strider Musk (2021, twin)
  • Azure Musk (2021, twin with Strider)
  • Techno Mechanicus Musk (2022)
  • Arcadia Musk (2023)
  • Seldon Lycurgus Musk (2024)
  • Romulus Musk (2024)

Names with mothers

Each child’s mother is publicly confirmed by TODAY (parenting and lifestyle reporting) and Reuters (wire service with court documents).

  • Justine Musk: Nevada, Vivian, Griffin, Kai, Saxon, Damian
  • Grimes: X Æ A-12, Exa Dark Sideræl, Techno Mechanicus
  • Shivon Zilis: Strider, Azure, Arcadia, Seldon Lycurgus, Romulus

Twins and triplets

  • Twin set: Griffin and Vivian (2004)
  • Triplet set: Kai, Saxon, Damian (2006)
  • Twin set: Strider and Azure (2021)

The implication: Musk’s family follows a pattern of multiple births, with three sets of multiples among the 14 children.

How do you pronounce Elon Musk’s kid’s name?

Three of Musk’s children have names that regularly stump readers. Here is the breakdown, based on clarifications from the parents.

Pronounce X Æ A-12

  1. X — pronounced “Ex.”
  2. Æ — pronounced “Ash.”
  3. A-12 — pronounced “A-Twelve.”
  4. Together: Ex-Ash-A-Twelve.

Grimes explained the pronunciation on CNN (international news network): “X, the letter; Æ, pronounced Ash; A-12, my contribution.”

Pronounce Exa Dark Sideræl

Exa Dark Sideræl is pronounced “Ex-uh Dark Sid-er-ale,” with the “æ” again sounding like “A.” The nickname “Y” is also used by the family, according to TODAY (parenting section).

Pronounce Techno Mechanicus

Techno Mechanicus is spoken as “Tek-no Mek-an-i-cus.” The name was revealed in a 2022 biography and confirmed by BBC News (UK public broadcaster) as legally registered.

The pattern: Musk and Grimes use archaic letters (Æ) and engineering terms to create names that double as inside jokes.

Who named his son Xe a 12?

The widely reported “Xe a 12” is a misspelling of X Æ A-12. Both Elon Musk and Grimes jointly chose the name.

Elon Musk and Grimes

Grimes posted on Instagram in May 2020 explaining the name’s components, as covered by CNN (entertainment desk). Musk confirmed on Twitter that the name was a joint decision.

Meaning behind the name

  • X = the unknown variable.
  • Æ = Grimes’ elven spelling of “AI” (love/artificial intelligence).
  • A-12 = precursor to the SR-71 aircraft, Musk’s favorite plane.

Legal name change

California law prohibits characters that are not letters (the hyphen and numbers). Musk and Grimes changed the name to X Æ A-Xii after birth, reported BBC News (legal affairs). The phonetic pronunciation remained the same.

The catch: what was intended as a tribute to aviation and AI turned into a global test of naming laws.

How many children does Elon Musk have?

Public records and news reports confirm 14 children, though the count has shifted as new births are disclosed.

Breakdown by mother

Mother Number of children Names
Justine Musk 6 Nevada, Vivian, Griffin, Kai, Saxon, Damian
Grimes 3 X Æ A-12, Exa Dark Sideræl, Techno Mechanicus
Shivon Zilis 5 Strider, Azure, Arcadia, Seldon Lycurgus, Romulus

Ages of children

  • Oldest living: Vivian Jenna Wilson (20 in 2024)
  • Youngest: Romulus Musk (newborn in 2024)

Birth years

Children span from 2002 (Nevada) to 2024 (Romulus). The births cluster around two periods: early 2000s with Justine Musk and 2020–2024 with Grimes and Zilis.

The pattern: Musk’s family expanded rapidly in the last five years, with eight children born since 2020.

Who are the mothers of Elon Musk’s children?

Three women have been identified through court filings, public announcements, and journalistic reporting.

Justine Musk

Justine Wilson (now Justine Musk) married Elon Musk in 2000. She gave birth to six children: Nevada (died in infancy), twins Griffin and Vivian, and triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian. TODAY (celebrity family coverage) confirmed each.

Grimes

Canadian musician Grimes (Claire Boucher) was in a relationship with Musk from 2018 to 2021. Together they have three children, as reported by BBC News (entertainment): X Æ A-12 (2020), Exa Dark Sideræl (2021, via surrogate), and Techno Mechanicus (2022).

Shivon Zilis

Shivon Zilis, a Neuralink executive, had twins Strider and Azure in 2021, and later three more children: Arcadia (2023), Seldon Lycurgus (2024), and Romulus (2024). Reuters (business and governance reporting) described the relationship as non-romantic.

Pronunciation tip: The “Æ” character appears in X Æ A-12 and Exa Dark Sideræl. In both names, it is pronounced “Ash,” as confirmed by Grimes on Instagram via CNN.

The trade-off: Musk’s family structure—spread across three homes and two co-parenting arrangements—reflects an unconventional approach to fatherhood.

Steps in Elon Musk’s naming process

Musk and his partners follow a distinct pattern when naming children.

  1. Select a scientific or engineering reference (A-12 aircraft, “Techno” for technology).
  2. Incorporate a personal element (Grimes’ elven “Æ” for AI).
  3. Blend into a single word or symbol (X Æ A-12, Sideræl).
  4. Adjust for legal constraints (change numerals to Roman, drop illegal characters).
  5. Use a nickname publicly (X for X Æ A-Xii, Y for Exa Dark Sideræl).

Why this matters: each step transforms an inside joke into a legal identity, with consequences for school registration and public perception.

Timeline of Elon Musk’s children births

  • 2002 — Birth of Nevada Alexander Musk (deceased at 10 weeks).
  • 2004 — Twins Griffin and Vivian (then Xavier) born.
  • 2006 — Triplets Kai, Saxon, Damian born.
  • 2020 — X Æ A-12 Musk born to Grimes.
  • 2021 — Exa Dark Sideræl Musk born to Grimes; twins Strider and Azure Musk born to Shivon Zilis.
  • 2022–2024 — Three more children with Shivon Zilis: Techno Mechanicus, Arcadia, Seldon Lycurgus, and Romulus (2024).

The timeline signal: a 18-year gap separates the first and second clusters of births.

Confirmed facts and what remains unclear

Based on reporting from TODAY (confirmed via birth records), Reuters (court filings), and BBC News (public statements).

Confirmed facts

  • All 14 names are confirmed by multiple news sources.
  • X Æ A-12 was originally filed as X Æ A-12, later changed to X Æ A-Xii.
  • Mothers: Justine Musk, Grimes, Shivon Zilis.
  • Nevada Alexander Musk died in infancy.

What’s unclear

  • Exact meaning of X Æ A-12 (multiple interpretations from Grimes).
  • Birth order of the last three children.
  • Some children’s ages are estimated.
  • Reports of a fourth mother (Ashley St. Clair) remain unconfirmed by primary sources.

Quotes from Elon Musk and Grimes

“X, the letter. Æ, pronounced Ash. A-12, my contribution.”

Grimes, via Instagram, as reported by CNN (entertainment desk)

“We changed the name to X Æ A-Xii to comply with California law.”

Elon Musk on Twitter, cited by BBC News (legal reporting)

“Strider and Azure are happy and healthy.”

Shivon Zilis, per Reuters (exclusive interview)

Each quote reinforces the theme: naming is a public act of identity, often requiring legal compromises.

Bottom line: Musk’s children carry names as unconventional as his ambitions, and the naming process forces families to check local laws before making headlines.

For the public, the takeaway is clear: Musk’s children will carry names that are as unconventional as their father’s ambitions. For families considering unique names, the lesson is practical—check your local naming laws before making a headline.

Related coverage: fullständig lista över Elon Musks barn fördjupar bilden av Elon Musk Kids Names: Complete List and Pronunciation Guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is X Æ A-12 a boy or girl?

X Æ A-12 was assigned male at birth, according to public birth records cited by BBC News.

Why did Elon Musk name his child Techno Mechanicus?

The name reflects Musk’s interest in technology and mechanics. Grimes confirmed it in a 2022 interview with BBC News.

What is the meaning of Exa Dark Sideræl?

“Exa” refers to the supercomputing term exaflop, “Dark” for dark matter, and “Sideræl” is a spelling of “sidereal” (relating to the stars). Grimes explained this on social media.

How many children does Elon Musk have with Grimes?

Three: X Æ A-12, Exa Dark Sideræl, and Techno Mechanicus. TODAY confirmed all three.

Are all of Elon Musk’s children biological?

Yes, all 14 are biological children of Musk, though some were conceived via surrogate (Exa Dark Sideræl). Reuters covered the surrogate arrangement.

What happened to Elon Musk’s first child?

Nevada Alexander Musk died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) at 10 weeks old in 2002. TODAY reported this from Musk’s biography.

What is the legal status of X Æ A-12’s name?

The name was changed to X Æ A-Xii to comply with California naming regulations that prohibit numbers and hyphens. BBC News documented the change.

How does Elon Musk handle his large family?

Musk has described co-parenting arrangements with each mother. In tweets and interviews, he has said he prioritizes family time despite his workload.

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Noah Daniel Mercer Mitchell

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Noah Daniel Mercer Mitchell

Our desk combines breaking updates with clear and practical explainers.