The Secret Meanings Behind Elon Musk's 10 Sons' Names: Decoding The Mythology, AI, And Sci-Fi Behind X Æ A-Xii, Techno, And Romulus
Elon Musk: A Brief Biography and Paternity Profile
Before diving into the complex naming conventions of his offspring, here is a quick profile of the entrepreneur who has shaped the modern tech landscape.
- Full Name: Elon Reeve Musk
- Born: June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa
- Nationality: South African, Canadian, and American
- Key Companies: Co-founder/CEO of Tesla, CEO/CTO of SpaceX, Owner/CTO of X (formerly Twitter), Founder of The Boring Company, Co-founder of Neuralink and xAI
- Education: University of Pennsylvania (B.A. in Physics, B.S. in Economics)
- Partners (Mothers of his Sons):
- Justine Wilson (Canadian Author)
- Grimes (Claire Boucher, Musician)
- Shivon Zilis (Neuralink Executive)
- Ashley St. Clair (Conservative Influencer/Author)
The First Generation: Traditional Names with Deep Roots
Musk’s first set of children with his first wife, Canadian author Justine Wilson, follow a more traditional, albeit classic, naming pattern. This group includes one deceased son and four living sons, all born in the early 2000s.
1. Nevada Alexander Musk
Nevada Alexander was Musk’s first son, born in 2002. Tragically, he passed away from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) at just 10 weeks old. The name Nevada is of Spanish origin, meaning "snow-capped," while Alexander is a classic Greek name meaning "defender of men."
2. Griffin Musk
Griffin is one of the twins born to Musk and Wilson in 2004. The name is of Welsh origin, referencing the mythological creature—a powerful beast with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle—symbolizing strength and courage.
3. Kai, Saxon, and Damian Musk
Born in 2006, Kai, Saxon, and Damian are triplets.
- Kai: A name with diverse origins, meaning "sea" in Hawaiian and "victory" in Chinese.
- Saxon: A historical name referring to the Germanic people who settled in England.
- Damian: A name of Greek origin, meaning "to tame" or "subdue."
These five older sons represent the more conventional side of Musk’s family, contrasting sharply with the names of his younger children.
The AI and Sci-Fi Era: Decoding Musk's Most Eccentric Sons' Names
Musk’s sons with musician Grimes (Claire Boucher) are arguably the most famous, or infamous, for their highly unconventional and complex names that reflect a deep dive into technology, mathematics, and science fiction.
4. X Æ A-Xii Musk (Nicknamed "X")
Born in May 2020, this son was originally named X Æ A-12, but the number was changed to the Roman numeral Xii to comply with California law. The name is a puzzle that Grimes herself has decoded:
- X: The unknown variable.
- Æ: The "elven spelling" of AI, which stands for Artificial Intelligence and/or "love."
- A-Xii: A reference to the Archangel 12, the internal name for the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird’s precursor, the fastest aircraft ever built, which is "Musk's favorite plane."
The pronunciation has been a point of contention, but Grimes clarified it is pronounced simply as "Ex-A-I."
5. Tau Techno Mechanicus Musk (Nicknamed "Tau")
Revealed in Walter Isaacson's 2023 biography of Musk, Techno Mechanicus, affectionately known as Tau, is the third child with Grimes. The name is a fusion of technology and mathematics:
- Tau: The Greek letter $\tau$, which is a mathematical constant equal to $2\pi$ (two times pi). Musk often references this number in his posts.
- Techno Mechanicus: Directly translates to "technology machine" or "technical mechanism," a clear nod to Musk’s life’s work in engineering and robotics.
The Newest Additions: Mythology, Law, and Unexpected Paternity Reveals
The most recent additions to the Musk family, confirmed in late 2024 and early 2025, continue the trend of high-concept, historical, and intellectual naming, showcasing Musk's interest in foundational concepts of civilization.
6. Strider Zilis Musk
Strider is one of the twins born to Musk and Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis in 2021. The name Strider is English in origin, meaning "to stride," and is famously known as the nickname for the hero Aragorn in J.R.R. Tolkien’s *The Lord of the Rings*—a name associated with a wandering king and future leader.
7. Romulus St. Clair
The name of Musk's son with conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair was revealed in February 2025. The name is a powerful reference to classical antiquity:
- Romulus: In Roman mythology, Romulus is the legendary founder and first king of Rome, symbolizing a fresh start and the foundation of an empire.
- St. Clair: The middle name is the mother’s surname, a French name meaning "bright" or "clear."
8. Seldon Lycurgus Musk
Seldon Lycurgus is the 14th known child of Elon Musk, a son with Shivon Zilis, whose name was also confirmed in early 2025. This name is perhaps the deepest cut into Musk's intellectual interests:
- Seldon: A direct reference to Hari Seldon, the brilliant mathematician in Isaac Asimov's science fiction masterpiece, the *Foundation* series. Hari Seldon develops 'psychohistory,' a field that can predict the future on a galactic scale, aligning perfectly with Musk's futuristic vision.
- Lycurgus: The middle name refers to the legendary lawgiver of Sparta, who is credited with creating the militaristic and disciplined social system of the ancient Greek city-state.
The combination of science fiction and ancient law in this name underscores a theme of creating a new, structured future for humanity, mirroring the goals of companies like SpaceX and Neuralink.
Summary of Elon Musk's Sons (9 Living):
Elon Musk currently has nine living sons, each with a name that carries significant cultural, historical, or technological weight. The evolution of the names—from the traditional Griffin and Damian to the futuristic X Æ A-Xii and the philosophically deep Seldon Lycurgus—offers an unparalleled look into the mind of one of the world's most influential and unconventional figures. The names of his children are, in essence, a personal manifesto, reflecting a fascination with the unknown variable (X), the speed of technology (A-Xii), the foundation of civilization (Romulus), and the structure of a future society (Seldon and Lycurgus). The world continues to watch, fascinated, to see what historical or scientific entity will inspire the name of the next "Musk-eteer."
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