When asked by a user on Twitter about the child's name, Elon replied, "X Æ A-12 Musk", but many were confused whether he was serious or just trolling, but the mother, Grimes, seems to be serious about the name.
X Æ A-12 Musk
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 5, 2020
The Genesis singer took to Twitter to explain the name of their child - unless it turns out to be an elaborate prank by the couple.
"X, the unknown variable. Æ, my elven spelling of Ai (love &/or Artificial intelligence). A-12 = precursor to SR-17 (our favourite aircraft). No weapons, no defences, just speed. Great in battle, but non-violent. A=Archangel, my favourite song," she wrote.
•X, the unknown variable ⚔️
— 𝖦𝗋𝗂𝗆𝖾𝗌 ⏳ (@Grimezsz) May 6, 2020
•Æ, my elven spelling of Ai (love &/or Artificial intelligence)
•A-12 = precursor to SR-17 (our favorite aircraft). No weapons, no defenses, just speed. Great in battle, but non-violent 🤍
+
(A=Archangel, my favorite song)
(⚔️🐁 metal rat)
Naturally, the name sent Twitter meme lords into overdrive, with thousands of tweets discussing the baby's name, with many making jokes about the baby being a robot communicating in computer codes.
X Æ A-12's first day at school: pic.twitter.com/8cLUKKHdXd
— MuchDank (@TheMuchDank) May 6, 2020
https://twitter.com/_anuraggh/status/1257953771944058880
https://twitter.com/nadia_hyd/status/1257917293570342912
https://twitter.com/vicveronixa/status/1257963023131525122
Many also took jibes at how the name was alien-esque.
https://twitter.com/brokeangeI/status/1257942540411682817
https://twitter.com/iatemuggles/status/1257628332696403970
it took me all fucking day to realize that X Æ A-12 is not a message from the newly discovered aliens BUT IS ELON MUSKS SONS NAME?!
— olivia (@0laughia) May 6, 2020
There are also quite a few theories on how to pronounce ‘X Æ A-12 Musk’.
Grimes' child: my name's X Æ A-12
— yung lean fan account 🌱 (@groovytony__) May 5, 2020
me: how do u pronounce that?
Grimes' child: pic.twitter.com/cyPDDKh28V
for those of u asking how X Æ A-12 is pronounced, it’s pic.twitter.com/o8u4RQINH9
— 𝕄𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕄𝕚𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕖𝕝 (@MrMichaelSwartz) May 5, 2020
Many people have shared their theories behind the actual name as well, and keeping in accordance with Grimes' own explanation, many people believe that the baby might have the middle name Archangel, because of the A-12 - the Lockheed A-12 fighter jet’s original code name was ‘Archangel’.
As for the X and Æ; one follower guessed ‘Xavier’ but Elon already has a son with that name. Other guesses include Neal, Alexander and Sasha. There's also speculation that Æ refers to the ligature Ash.
According to The Guardian, Grimes cleared things up, and it’s possible the baby is really named Xai Archangel Musk.
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