Tech billionaire Elon Musk recently shared a rare glimpse into his personal life, revealing the meaningful inspiration behind the name of his son, Strider Sekhar. The revelation came in response to a viral post on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), which has since garnered millions of views.
The Viral Post and Musk's Personal Revelation
The story began when a handle named Tesla Owners Silicon Valley posted a photograph of Elon Musk with his twins, born in 2021. The post quoted Musk's philosophical outlook: "Bringing a child into the world is a statement of optimism. We need to restore hope and excitement for the future—I believe it will surpass the past." Musk himself then replied to this post, offering a detailed explanation that captivated his global audience.
In his comment, Musk introduced his children: "Me with my son, Strider Sekhar (named after Aragorn & great Indian physicist Chandrasekhar) and daughter, Comet Azure, named after the most powerful spell in Elden Ring." This single reply provided a fascinating blend of pop culture and scientific homage, instantly making the post a trending topic with over 2.2 million views.
Honouring a Nobel Laureate and a Literary Hero
Strider Sekhar is one of the twins born to Elon Musk and Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis. Zilis, a Canadian-born professional, has Indian roots through her Punjabi Indian mother. Musk's breakdown of the name highlights a dual tribute. 'Strider' is a reference to Aragorn, the fictional king and ranger from J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings'. The middle name, 'Sekhar', is a direct nod to the legendary Indian-American astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.
Chandrasekhar, a monumental figure in science, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1983 for his groundbreaking theoretical work on the structure and evolution of stars. This is not the first time Musk has acknowledged the Indian connection. In a 2023 podcast with Nikhil Kamath, Musk had mentioned his partner Shivon Zilis is half-Indian and hinted that one of their sons carried the middle name Sekhar.
Musk's Pattern of Unique Nomenclature
Elon Musk is known for his unconventional approach to naming his children, which often reflects his interests in science, technology, and mythology. With musician Grimes, he has a son named X Æ A-Xii, whose middle name was later revealed to be inspired by the Archangel aircraft program. Though no longer together, Grimes is also the mother to two of Musk's other children: Exa Dark Sideræl and Tau Techno Mechanicus, names inspired by science fiction and concepts of ancient governance, respectively.
Shivon Zilis is the mother to three of Musk's children: the twins Strider and Azure, and another daughter named Arcadia. Musk's latest revelation has once again spotlighted his personal life and his penchant for names that carry deep, often intellectual, significance, bridging worlds from Middle-earth to the cosmos studied by Chandrasekhar.
