Elon Musk’s son, X Æ A-Xii, has revealed the correct pronunciation of his unique name.
The 53-year-old tech mogul and his former girlfriend, Grimes, announced the birth of their baby boy in May 2020.
At the time, the Tesla CEO took to X (formerly Twitter) to reveal that the former couple had decided to name their son “X Æ A-Xii” – a name that immediately captured public curiosity and confusion.
Fans have had trouble pronouncing the four-year-old’s name. According to The Independent, Grimes explained that the name is “just X, like the letter X,” adding: “Then AI. Like how you said the letter A then I.”
Meanwhile, the curious toddler revealed during his father’s appearance on the Tucker Carlson show that it’s more complicated than that.
Watch the X pronounce his name below (at the 2:51:00 mark):
Speaking into the microphone with surprising clarity for his age, Musk’s son attempted to enunciate his complex name, which even then seemed a bit muddled.
The Space X founder simplified it to “X” during the interview, and affectionately referred to him as his “mini-me”.
He also shared during his interview with podcast host Joe Rogan: “I mean, it’s just X, the letter X. And then, the Æ is, like, pronounced ‘Ash’… and then, A-12, A-12 is my contribution.”
This moniker, as unique as it is, stems from a blend of esoteric meanings and personal significance.
Grimes has broken it down, sharing that “X” stands for “the unknown variable,” a nod to the enigmatic possibilities of the future, per The Independent.
The “Æ,” she explains, is a creative spelling of AI, which not only stands for artificial intelligence but also translates to ‘love’ in several languages, including Japanese.
The “A-12 = precursor to SR-17″ segment of the name pays homage to the former couple’s favorite aircraft: “No weapons, no defenses, just speed. Great in battle, but non-violent,” she said.
And lastly, the “A” in the name represents “Archangel”, the title of a song by Burial that she has previously described as her favorite.
As well as X Æ A-Xii, Musk shares daughter Exa Dark Sideræl (nicknamed Y) and son Techno Mechanicus Musk with the singer.
The billionaire has also welcomed six kids with his first wife, Justine Wilson, and three with his Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis.