Elon Musk Kids Names: Complete List and Pronunciation Guide

Few things about Elon Musk spark as much curiosity as the names of his children. From the alphanumeric X Æ A-12 to the Greek-inspired Techno Mechanicus, each name tells a story—or raises more questions. This guide lays out every known child, how to pronounce their names, and the legal and personal context behind them.

Total children: 14 ·
Number of mothers: 3 ·
Oldest child: Nevada Musk (deceased) ·
Most unconventional name: X Æ A-12 ·
Youngest child (as of 2025): Techno Mechanicus (born 2024) ·
Child with highest public profile: Vivian Jenna Wilson

Six key facts, one pattern: Musk has used three distinct maternal lines and a naming philosophy that mixes traditional names, alphanumeric symbols, and life‑science references.

What Are Elon Musk’s 14 Children Called?

List of all children

• Justine Wilson (mother of six): Nevada Alexander (2002, deceased), Vivian Jenna Wilson (b. 2004), Griffin Musk (b. 2004), Kai Musk (b. 2006), Saxon Musk (b. 2006), Damian Musk (b. 2006) (People)
• Grimes (mother of three): X Æ A-12 (b. 2020), Exa Dark Sideræl (b. 2022), Techno Mechanicus (b. 2024) (BBC)
• Shivon Zilis (mother of at least three): Strider Zilis Musk (b. 2021), Azure Zilis Musk (b. 2021), Sekhar Musk (b. 2022) (Wall Street Journal)

Mothers and birth years

The three mothers span Musk’s relationships: Justine Wilson (1990s–2008 marriage), Grimes (2018–2022 on‑and‑off), and Shivon Zilis (Neuralink executive, relationship largely private). A CNN report confirms the maternal distribution.

Notable name changes (Vivian Jenna Wilson)

In 2022 Vivian Jenna Wilson filed to change her name from Xavier Musk and her gender, stating she no longer wished to be associated with her father. The New York Times covered the legal proceeding.

The implication: With 14 children across three households, Musk’s family tree is as unconventional as his companies, and the names serve as artifacts of his relationships and intellectual interests.

How Do You Pronounce Elon Musk’s Baby’s Name?

Pronunciation of X Æ A-12

Grimes explained that the name is pronounced “X Ash A Twelve.” The “Æ” character is the Latin ligature for the “ash” sound (Elon Musk Twitter/X). Musk himself once tweeted “X Ash A-12” as the proper pronunciation.

Grimes’ explanation

In a thread, Grimes broke down the components: X = unknown variable, Æ = “ai” in Elvish (also standing for Artificial Intelligence), A-12 = precursor to the SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft (The Guardian).

Common mispronunciations

• “Ex-ay-twelve” (common mistake)
• “Ay-twelve” (dropping the X)
• “X-ah-twelve” (wrong vowel for Æ)

Why this matters: The lack of a single authoritative pronunciation means journalists and the public must either adopt Grimes’ version or rely on circumstantial clues.

Who Named His Son X Æ A-12?

Origin of the name

The name was jointly decided by Elon Musk and Grimes. A CNN report on Musk’s children notes the name was revealed on Twitter in May 2020.

Grimes’ tweet and explanation

“X, the unknown variable. Æ, my elvish spelling of Ai (love &/or Artificial intelligence). A-12 = precursor to SR-71 (favorite aircraft). No weapons, no defenses, just speed. Great in battle, but non-violent.”

Grimes on Twitter, 2020 (The Guardian)

Legal status on birth certificate

California law forbids numerals in legal names, so the birth certificate lists the child as “X Æ A-XII” with first name “X” and middle names “Æ A-XII” (The Guardian).

The pattern: Musk and Grimes prioritized meaning over legality, a recurring tension in celebrity baby naming.

Who Is X Æ A‑Xii?

Profile of Musk’s son with Grimes

X Æ A‑Xii (often written X Æ A-12) is their first child together, born May 4, 2020. He rarely appears in public; one notable exception was a White House visit in 2025 (Reuters).

Public appearances

Beyond the White House, X has been seen briefly in videos posted by Musk. A Vanity Fair article on Grimes notes she shares custody.

Nickname usage

Media outlets commonly refer to him as “X,” a simplification that avoids the pronunciation debate.

The trade-off: A name that captures worldwide attention also burdens the child with constant explanation—a trade‑off Musk and Grimes accepted.

Who Is Elon Musk’s Indian Son?

Sekhar Musk: background

Sekhar Musk is the third child of Elon Musk and Shivon Zilis, born in 2022. The name “Sekhar” is of Indian origin (Wall Street Journal).

Connection to India

The choice reportedly honors Musk’s Indian business connections and his appreciation for Indian culture. NDTV, an Indian news broadcaster, reported the name and the India link.

Mother: Shivon Zilis

Shivon Zilis is a Neuralink executive. The existence of twins Strider and Azure with Zilis was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, which described her as a key figure in Musk’s inner circle.

Why this matters: Musk’s naming choices extend beyond eccentricity—they also include culturally significant names that reflect his global business interests.

How Do I Say Æ?

The /æ/ phoneme in English

The character Æ (æ) represents the near‑open front unrounded vowel, as in “cat” /kæt/ or “bat” /bæt/.

Examples and tongue position

• “ash” – the traditional English name for the letter
• “a” as in “hat” (standard American pronunciation)
• Lower the jaw and place the tongue low and forward in the mouth (Park Lane Jewelry pronunciation guide – low authority, use with caution)

Why it appears in Musk’s baby name

Grimes chose the ligature to represent “Artificial Intelligence” and “love” in Elvish, while also using its phonetic value as the “ash” sound.

What to watch: If Æ becomes more popular in baby names, Musk may have inadvertently revived an archaic character.

Timeline

• 2002: Birth of Nevada Alexander Musk (died at 10 weeks from SIDS) (People)
• 2004: Birth of twins Vivian Jenna Wilson (formerly Xavier) and Griffin Musk (NYT)
• 2006: Birth of triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian Musk (People)
• 2020: Birth of X Æ A-12 (Musk and Grimes) (The Guardian)
• 2021: Birth of twins Strider and Azure Zilis Musk (mother Shivon Zilis) (WSJ)
• 2022: Birth of Exa Dark Sideræl (Grimes) and Sekhar Musk (Zilis) (Vanity Fair; WSJ)
• 2024: Birth of Techno Mechanicus (Grimes) (BBC)
• 2025: Reports of another child with Shivon Zilis, possibly named Seldon Lycurgus (Bloomberg)

The pattern: Musk’s fatherhood accelerated after 2020, with five children born in four years, reflecting new relationships and perhaps a deliberate expansion of his family.

“X, the unknown variable. Æ, my elvish spelling of Ai (love &/or Artificial intelligence). A-12 = precursor to SR-71 (favorite aircraft). No weapons, no defenses, just speed. Great in battle, but non-violent.”

Grimes on Twitter, 2020 (The Guardian)

“X Æ A-12 Musk” – Elon Musk on Twitter, 2020

“We named him Techno Mechanicus, but we call him Tau.”

Grimes, in an interview cited by Wired, tech culture magazine

For parents fascinated by celebrity baby names, Musk’s choices offer a mix of high‑tech symbolism and personal history. The challenge is that the names often require explanation—a trade‑off between individuality and communication. For journalists covering the family, the lack of consistent pronunciation guidance means every story must navigate ambiguity. For Musk himself, the names are an extension of his brand: unconventional, thought‑provoking, and occasionally at odds with legal reality. For the public, the question is whether these names will stick as cultural references or fade as trivia.

For a detailed breakdown of each name and its pronunciation, refer to the complete list of Elon Musks children.

Frequently asked questions