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17 Ways the Internet Reacted to Elon Musk and Grimes Naming Their Baby "X Æ A-12"

Many online commenters have hilariously tried to decipher the "X Æ A-12" code.
Chris Young
| May 06, 2020 04:22 AM EST
Created: May 06, 2020 04:22 AM EST
culture
1, 2, 3

So, the news is in. Elon Musk and electronic pop musician girlfriend Claire "Grimes" Boucher's baby has been born, and it's a boy — that will ultimately choose its gender. But that's not the news that really got everyone talking.

The announcement, by Elon Musk, that they'll be calling their baby "X Æ A-12" has set the internet ablaze with the power of a hundred Raptor engines. 

We take a look at how the internet reacted to the bizarre internet name unveiling.

RELATED: 16 GREAT TWEETS FROM ELON MUSK THAT DEFINITELY MADE US LAUGH

1. The big announcement

Yesterday, on May 5th, 2020, Elon Musk publicly announced the name of his newborn child, "X Æ A-12", in a reply on Twitter.

He also replied to a poster asking whether the baby is a boy or a girl and, in response to tweeters asking for photos, also posted images of the newborn, whose name would be on everyone's tongue — if they could pronounce it.

It is worth noting that it's best to take any of Elon Musk's tweets with a pinch of salt, seeing as he's been known to be cryptic and controversial on Twitter, sometimes to disastrous effect for his companies. 

And yet, "X Æ A-12 Musk" is here. As far as we know, that is the real name.

As can be seen on Twitter trending, at one-day-old, the baby has probably set some kind of world record when it comes to being the youngest person to become a pop culture icon.

2. No one knows how to pronounce "X Æ A-12"

How on Earth do you pronounce "X Æ A-12"? When in doubt, just post a meme.

It could be pronounced in computer beeps and boops.

It could be gibberish.

Or it could be the computerized sound of a demon cat. There's only one thing we know for certain, just make sure no one asks John Travolta!

3. Many suggested the name is code

As this poster on Reddit suggested, Musk and Grimes went to a book in Minecraft instead of a book of baby names when they were thinking of names for their child. 

X Æ A-12. What a legend from r/elonmusk

The game is famously known for helping young kids learn the basics of computer programming and coding.

Musk even mentioned Minecraft a day before "X Æ A-12" was born. Illuminati confirmed.

4. Countless people tried to decipher the "X Æ A-12" code

Online commenters have been quick to try to crack the code. Tweeter @flcnhvy looked to be on the right track as their post asking if it means "X Ash Archangel" was hit with a like by Elon Musk himself.

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Others maybe read a little too much into the significance of the letter, or Roman numeral 'X'.

5. This one sweet theory is very likely true

A song on musician Grimes' recently released album Miss Anthropocene is called '4ÆM'.

It turns out the title for the song, which was unveiled at last year's Game Awards, was very likely chosen as a sweet tribute to the soon-to-be-born baby.

6. Another one joins the simulation

To some, Elon Musk and Grimes' baby being called "X Æ A-12" is all the proof they need that we are, in fact, living in a simulation.

Musk, of course, has said this himself on more than one occasion.

7. Many said congratulations

Amongst those saying their congratulations were progressive presidential campaigner and universal basic income proponent Andrew Yang.

A certain Engineering-themed publication also chipped in.

We're sure the high-profile couples' social media feeds are flooding with well-wishes as we speak.

8. The memes were inevitable

And, of course, the memes also came flooding in relentlessly.

17 Ways the Internet Reacted to Elon Musk and Grimes Naming Their Baby "X Æ A-12"
Source: Reddit

It didn't take long for the internet to get very weird, very quickly.

We all know that, as the meme-loving Elon Musk is involved, this will go on for days.

My first meme from r/elonmusk

We have to admit that the user name, WiFi password and "strong password" memes really made us chuckle.

xXÆ-A-12-420Xx from r/elonmusk

9. Many people are pretty convinced "X Æ A-12" will grow up to be some kind of demon cyborg cat...

Did we say the memes got weird?

Here's another example.

10. ...or that he'll betray his father's true identity as an extraterrestrial

Elon Musk seems to have a superhuman ability to juggle CEO and founder responsibilities for several companies, including SpaceX, Neuralink, Tesla, and The Boring Company.

That's why many have questioned whether he may, in fact, be an alien.

11. People have already started with conspiracy theories

There had to be a conspiracy theory somewhere online. Some posters played into the dubious alien "theory" by suggesting the two photos of "X Æ A-12 Musk" were each of a different baby.

Anyone notice that the two pictures of the baby have two different types of noses and two different types of lips? Are they even the same baby? from r/elonmusk

Though the baby picture on the left does have puffier lips, this is very very likely because of the photo filter that's also giving the baby face tattoos.

12. One person suggested there's been a HUGE mix-up

Only a few days ago, Elon Musk controversially voiced his anti-coronavirus lockdown sentiment by tweeting "FREE AMERICA NOW".

This wouldn’t be the wackiest thing he’s done. from r/elonmusk

Maybe the "X Æ A-12" name really is just a ruse and this very farfetched theory is totally true — it's not like we can rule anything out at this stage.

13. Some seemed oddly grateful

Could Elon Musk and Grimes have opened up a whole new world of possibilities for baby names in the same way Tesla's Cybertruck opened a whole new dimension for angular designs? 

Thank you Elon, very cool from r/elonmusk

It might sound weird to compare a human being to a piece of engineering — the Cybertruck — but it turns out that, in the world of Musk and Grimes, that might just be a huge compliment — see section 17.

14. "Thanks Dad"

And the memes just keep on coming.

Thanks Dad from r/elonmusk

Some have suggested that Elon Musk's forays with the "420" cannabis culture might be slightly responsible for the naming of the child.

15. That's one futuristic looking baby

Anyone who's played Hideo Kojima's sci-fi Amazon package delivery simulator, Death Stranding, knows what a futuristic sci-fi baby looks like.

Considering Grimes' cyborg anime sensibilities, and Elon Musk futuristic technology companies, tweeter @Julian_Epp might be right on the money.

16. He's really just way behind the times

As online commenter @behindyourback put it, iconic musician Prince changed his name to a symbol all the way back in 1993.

Could Elon Musk, despite all his aspirations as a technological innovator, have been inspired by "The Purple One"? He was, after all, another being who was probably not of this Earth.

17. Finally an update: Grimes reveals the true meaning of "X Æ A-12"

After allowing a few good hours of the internet being broken by the news of their baby's name, Grimes fully unveiled the meaning behind it on Twitter last night:

Elon Musk, in the meantime, did chime in with a small correction:

The real unknown variable? How many times a day the child will have to explain to people how to pronounce his name — "Just call me A." Poor kid.

In all seriousness though, congratulations to Elon Musk and Claire Boucher (Grimes). May the memes continue, and may "X Æ A-12" live a long and happy life!

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