Grimes's Son X Æ A-Xii Doesn't Call Her "Mom"

Grimes's sword and illuminated book-as-clutch may have stolen the show at the 2021 Met Gala — a tough task when she was also wearing a metal face mask and an Iris Van Herpen gown — but as behind-the-scenes clips from Vogue rolled out onto the internet, the singer's getting-ready routine is making big headlines, too. While she prepped for the gala, she explained that being a mom has changed her as an artist and that much like her unorthodox approach to music, she has an unconventional view on being a mom.

"I think having a baby was a big rebirth for me, like artistically," she said. "Being a mother feels weird to say. For some reason, I don't identify with that word."

So, since she doesn't "identify" with it, she said that her son, full name X Æ A-Xii, calls her Claire, her first name (her full name is Claire Elise Boucher). And as for his name, she revealed that she calls him X. Grimes and her partner, Elon Musk, initially announced that his name was X Æ A-12, but had to change it to X Æ A-Xii to abide by the state of California's requirements for a Social Security card.

"Which is also really weird because X, he says 'Claire,' but he doesn't say 'mama.' Which is so... I'm like, 'How are you...?' " she added. "Like, maybe he can sense my distaste for the word 'mother.' I don't even know why I have a distaste for [the word] because I respect … I just, I don't, I can't identify with it, weirdly."

Grimes and Musk welcomed X back in May 2020. While X is Grimes's first child, Musk is dad to 17-year-old twins Xavier and Griffin and 15-year-old triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian. Grimes didn't share if they call her by her first name, her stage name, or any other nickname.