X Æ A-12: Elon Musk, Grimes change baby's name following California law

In this file photo taken on May 7, 2018 Elon Musk and Grimes arrive for the 2018 Met Gala, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Elon Musk's girlfriend has given birth to the couple's first child together, the outspoken Tesla chief announced on May 4, 2020. Musk, 48, has been dating the musician Grimes since 2018.
AFP/Angela Weiss

MANILA, Philippines — Tesla head Elon Musk and girlfriend, singer Grimes, recently changed the unusual name of their new baby because of a Californian law.

The couple revealed earlier this month that their baby will be named X Æ A-12, but a California law stipulates that only alphabetic letters can be used in a newborn's name.

On Instagram, a fan asked Grimes if the baby has a new name because of the law.

"Did you change the baby name because of Californian laws ? What is the baby's new name?" the fan wrote on Grimes' Instagram photo.

“X Æ A-Xii,” Grimes replied, changing the numbers to Roman numerals. She added in the comments, “looks better tbh.”

The California Department of Public Health Vital Records Handbook explains the requirements for completing a birth certificate: "The form is to be completed using the 26 alphabetical characters of the English language." Some punctuation symbols are allowed when necessary, like in a hyphenated last name or one with an apostrophe.

Using numbers, however, is not allowed under those rules, and using pictures, like an emoji or ideogram, in a name is also forbidden.

RELATED: Welcome baby X Æ A-12: Musk, Grimes may face problems registering name

Show comments