X Æ A-Xii - How to say Elon Musk's son's name after billionaire brings 'Lil X' to Oval Office
Everyone knows the name of the world's richest man, especially since Elon Musk is one of the most confusing characters currently cropping up in the news.
His most recent scandal included making what was perceived as a "Nazi salute" at Donald Trump's inauguration, followed by being forced to deny a "hostile takeover" of the US Government in a surprise White House visit yesterday, February 11, which led to the business giant making headlines worldwide yet again.
Accompanying him on this spontaneous drop-in at the White House was Musk's son X Æ A-Xii, who was addressed by the far easier nickname 'Little X'. Shining a spotlight on his four-year-old son, the visit has led people to question the businessman's choice of name for his first child with musician Grimes.
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The Tesla CEO and owner of X (formerly Twitter) has a net worth of $391.3billion. And while his unusual name is a household one across the globe - as would his son's be if anyone could remember it- not many people know the origins behind the billionaire's moniker.
But what do the names 'Elon Musk' and 'X Æ A-Xii' mean? Here's everything you need to know about the mega-rich father and son's titles.
Meaning of X Æ A-Xii name
When Musk first announced his son's title as a combination of capital letters and dashes, most people thought it was a joke, and that he'd soon change the baby's first name to something more traditional. But four years on, Trump met the toddler at the White House, still named X Æ A-Xii.
He first announced the name of his son on Twitter as 'X Æ A-12', but speculation arose that the interesting name choice may not abide by Californian law, where the couple lived, as names can only use the 26 alphabetical characters of the English language, according to the state constitution, reported The Independent.
In response, the number 12 was replaced by Xii, the same thing in Roman numerals.
The couple shared on Twitter that the name X Æ A-12 is made up of three parts, each with its own meaning:
X: Represents "the unknown variable"
Æ: The Elven spelling of "AI", which can also mean "love" in some languages
A-12: Refers to the Archangel-12 plane, which was a precursor to the SR-71 and reportedly the former couple's favourite aircraft.
For those still having trouble deciphering - it is pronounced as X-AI-A-12.
Origin of Elon Musk's name
Musk's unique name is part of his brand, and many may believe he chose the name himself to increase his memorability, originality, or status. But in fact, the CEO was born with that title.
Elon Reeve Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa's administrative capital. He is of British and Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry.
His parents, Errol and Maye Musk, reportedly chose the name 'Elon' to please his mother's side of the family, but he was allegedly almost named 'Nice' after the French city.
The businessman seems to have kept up his family's tradition of choosing unique names for their children, with his unique name for his first son with Grimes. He had two more children with the singer- a girl named 'Exa Dark Siderael' and a boy named 'Techno Mechanicus', nicknamed 'Tau'.
Meaning of Elon Musk's name
Elon Musk's first name, Elon, is a Hebrew name that means 'oak tree'. It's a gender-neutral name that first appeared in the Old Testament, and the name is associated with strength, wisdom and endurance.
While his status as richest man in the world certainly aligns with his name's characteristics of strength and endurance, many may disagree that the controversial figure is wise.
The last name 'Musk' origins and meaning
The last name 'Musk' comes from Dutch and old English, and is thought to be associated with the fragrant secretion from the oriental musk deer. The word was also sometimes applied to the sap of tree and other plants.
'Musk' is also an Americanised form of the Dutch name 'Musch', meaning 'sparrow', which, according to Ancestry, could have been given to a small, weak man or a busy person.
