Elon Musk, father of an 11th child with a very special first name: gift or burden?

We knew billionaire Elon Musk’s taste for unusual first names, and he would have given his imagination free rein again. In a biography revealed by the New York Times, the man would have had a third child in secret with his ex-partner Grimes (the 11th for the businessman). A child with the sweet first name of… Techno Mechanicus.

X Æ A-12, Exa Dark Sideral, Techno Mechanicus…

If nothing else has leaked about this birth, the first name, on the other hand, is only the continuation of a hunt for originality to which the billionaire has accustomed us. Thus, the couple’s first boy, born in 2020, was first named X Æ A-12 (before being forced by the courts to rename him X Æ A-XII). A crazy name? Not for Elon Musk who explained his choice on the Twitter network (X today) “X, the unknown variable, æ, that I pronounce “Ai” for artificial love or intelligence, A-12 which is the precursor of SR-17 (our favorite plane). The A also stands for “Archangel”, my favorite song.“

Then in 2021, the couple welcomed a little girl whom they named Exa Dark Sideral, in reference to mathematics and “wonderful mystery of our universe“. Even more surprising, parents would ultimately use “X” and “Y” to call their children on a daily basis. Techno Mechanicus would be called Tau in private.

Can too much originality harm the child?

Parents seem very proud of their children’s choice of first names. But how far can we go when we choose originality? Can a unique first name be an asset to a child’s personality, or on the contrary a difficulty? We asked Héloïse Junier, early childhood psychologist, for her opinion.

For her, if there is no perfect first name, it must still be chosen with full knowledge of the facts: “Our first name is, from our birth, a component of our identity. It’s not nothing ! This means that it will influence the way we look at ourselves, our self-esteem, the way others look at ourselves, our social life, our psychological well-being and also our personality, which has been highlighted by numerous research studies since the end of the 20th century.”

But what about a unique first name, unpronounceable and irrelevant, like those of the latest Musk children?

“Choosing to give your child a very, too original first name, as is the case with Techno Mechanicus, is not without consequences“ agrees the psychologist. “In the eyes of certain researchers, first names that are too rare and/or unappreciated by others could even constitute what they call a “social handicap”. Some studies point out that an unusual first name seems more associated with adjustment problems, lower self-evaluation and sometimes even lower academic, social and professional success. Although, of course, the first name is only one factor among others! This is why it is always good to put things into perspective.” she recalls.

Anyway, if you are looking for a name for your unborn child, enter “Paul” And “Techno Mechanicus“, there is a wide range of choices to find an original first name, without falling into the extravagant and difficult to wear.

Slide: Top first names 2024: what are the trends among future parents?