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Whether it’s an ode to Mother Nature or a tribute to an indie rock band, Hollywood continues to introduce us to the most unusual celebrity baby names out there.
In his new biography written by Walter Isaacson, Elon Musk has revealed that he and Grimes have had a third child—and the name is as eccentric as you might expect. Their youngest child, whose existence has been kept secret until a few months ago, was revealed to be called Techno Mechanicus, or “Tau” for short, joining a daughter named Exa Dark Sideræl, whom they call “Y,” and their son, X Æ A-Xii (formerly X Æ A-12), who goes by “X".
Still, Grimes and Musk certainly aren’t the only celebs to opt for a unique name: Just take Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost, who named their son Cosmo. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky’s first son is called RZA, in honor of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan rapper RZA, and their second child was recently reported to have been named Riot Rose. And it won’t be long before we welcome baby Rocky Thirteen Barker into the world.
Just when you thought the world of baby names couldn’t get any more unexpected, here’s an extensive list of the most unusual celebrity baby names you never knew you needed. Who knows? You might even find some inspiration for your future brood.
Techno Mechanicus, Exa Dark Sideræl, and X Æ A-Xii
Rumored to be inspired by the Warhammer 40000 game, Techno Mechanicus seems to be the most conventional of the three, though trying to pronounce it is a little anxiety-inducing.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Grimes explains that Exa is a reference to the supercomputing term exaFLOPS, and Dark alludes to the unknown. “People fear it but truly it's the absence of photos. Dark matter is the beautiful mystery of our universe,” Grimes says. Sideræl—pronounced sigh-deer-ee-el—is a nod to the Lord of the Rings character Galadriel and “the true time of the universe, star time, deep space, not our relative earth time.”
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Pronounced X Ash A 12, Grimes tweeted: “I think it sounds like the name of the main character in the story of Saturn, I hope he vibes with that.”
North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm
Parents: Kim Kardashian and Ye (formerly known as Kanye West)
The names Saint and Chicago were reportedly Kardashian’s idea, as a tribute to West’s roots. Kris Jenner championed the name Psalm—and North, well, that moniker originated from a joke by Jay Leno.
Mason Dash, Penelope Scotland, and Reign Aston
Parents: Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick
Kardashian initially considered the name Reign for her first child, but opted for Mason because of its shared meaning with Kardashian in Armenian; both signify a stone worker. Paying homage to Robert Kardashian, she added Dash, which was not only her late father's nickname but also the name of the Kardashians’ former boutique clothing chain.
For her second child, Rain was a possibility, but she and Disick ultimately settled on Penelope. The middle name Scotland may be an ode to the family’s Scottish heritage. As for her third child’s name, Reign was selected, while Aston—inspired by Anglo-Saxon King Athelstan—adds an extra royal touch for the son of Lord Disick.
Aire and Stormi
Parents: Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott
Probing Jenner about the backstory of her baby names is a bit like asking for the meaning behind people’s tattoos. Elusive, and, sometimes, there really is no specific reason. Jenner did, though, admit to wanting a name that carried a special meaning for her son, which led to Aire, a Hebrew name that means “Lion of God.”
Apple
Parents: Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin
Once the most controversial baby names in Hollywood, Apple seems quite ordinary now in a world of Saints and Stormis. “Apples are so sweet, and they’re wholesome, and it’s biblical, and I just thought it sounded so lovely,” Paltrow said on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2004.
Blue Ivy
Parents: Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Jay-Z
The superstar couple did contemplate naming their daughter Brooklyn at one point, apparently. During their routine prenatal checks, they playfully referred to her as “Blueberry.” Eventually, that led to Blue, Jay-Z said in a recent interview with Gayle King.
Kal-El
Parents: Alice Kim and Nicolas Cage
Born out of Cage’s love for Superman, Kal-El is a reference to the superhero’s Kryptonian name—well before he was the journalist Clark Kent.
Pilot Inspektor
Parents: Beth Riesgraf and Jason Lee
Lee named his child after the opening track of Grandaddy's 2000 album The Sophtware Slump, titled “He’s Simple, He’s Dumb, He’s the Pilot.”
Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalune Florence
Parents: Uma Thurman and Arpad Busson
Or, Luna, for short.
Moroccan and Monroe
Parents: Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon
Carey wanted her twins’ initials to match hers. Monroe was named after icon Marilyn Monroe, while Moroccan’s name was inspired by the aesthetic of the top floor in Carey's Tribeca triplex penthouse. (As a Moroccan myself, I have some mixed feelings about this one.)
Poppy Honey Rosie, Daisy Boo Pamela, Petal Blossom Rainbow, Buddy Bear Maurice, and River Rocket Blue Dallas
Parents: Juliette Norton and Jamie Oliver
British restaurateur Oliver is famed for his offbeat baby names, but each one bears a special meaning. River, for example, is a loving tribute to the restaurant that launched his career in 1997, Fulham’s River Café.
Cricket Pearl and Birdie Leigh
Parents: Busy Philipps and Marc Silverstein
There’s no specific reason behind Philipps’ baby names, except for the fact that she found them endearing. But, she does have a message for those who might disapprove: “It’s weird people think my kids will be in therapy because of their names. Guys, my kids will be [in] therapy for LOTS of reasons, I'm sure,” she tweeted in 2013.
Kulture Kiari
Named after her father's legal name, Kiari Kendrell Cephus, the couple named their daughter Kulture, with a K, because “anything else woulda been basic Okrrrrr,” Cardi B tweeted in 2018.
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Raddix Chloe Wildflower
Parents: Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden
Raddix isn’t a name you encounter every day, with the exception of a 28-year-old DJ from Texas and Diaz and Madden's little one. Should she decide to take a different path from the EDM scene, she could go by Wildflower, Chloe, or simply RAD.
Sparrow James Midnight
Parents: Nicole Richie and Joel Madden
For their son, Richie and Madden wanted a name that would nicely pair with their first child, Harlow Winter Kate.
Lyra Antarctica
Parents: Cherry Seaborn and Ed Sheeran
Sheeran wanted a one-of-a-kind name for his baby girl, like that of his wife Cherry, eventually deciding on Lyra. Antarctica came from a memorable voyage the couple made to the continent in 2019, just before Seaborn’s pregnancy.
Kingston James McGregor, Zuma Nesta Rock, and Apollo Bowie Flynn
Parents: Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale
Kingston is named after the capital city of Jamaica and Rossdale’s middle name, McGregor. Zuma’s name combines influences from Zuma Beach in Malibu, Bob Nesta Marley, and possibly a subtle ode to rock music. Apollo’s middle names, Bowie Flynn, are a blend of their mothers' maiden names.
Bronx Mowgli
Parents: Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz
The name was chosen in honor of the New York county and beloved character Mowgli from The Jungle Book.
Bear Blaze
Parents: Kate Winslet and Edward Abel Smith (AKA Ned Rocknroll)
Bear was the nickname of Winslet’s close childhood friend, and she went with Blaze because “my husband and I met in a house fire, basically,” she told The Cut.
Elsie Otter and Charlie Wolf
Parents: Zooey Deschanel and Jacob Pechenik
Because they truly adored the name Elsie, and otters. One thing is certain: Elsie better share their love for these adorable creatures.
Audio Science
Parents: Shannyn Sossamon and Dallas Clayton
After reading the dictionary multiple times, Clayton finally settled on Audio Science.
Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet, and Diva Thin Muffin
Parents: Adelaide Gail Zappa and Frank Zappa
Moon or Motörhood were the two original contenders, and Unit was chosen because, as the eldest, Moon’s birth symbolized the family as a unit. Dweezil actually began as a pet name coined by Zappa for his wife’s pinky toe and was later adapted for their son. However, the hospital refused to register Dweezil under that name, so it remained a nickname (born Ian Donald Calvin Euclid) until he insisted on legally changing it at the age of five. Ahmet, a common Turkish name, was in tribute to the co-founder of Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertegun. And, lastly, Diva’s name was apparently a result of her being a particularly vocal baby. An intriguing backstory, to say the least.