Fans find out meaning behind Charli xcx's name and why she won't change it

Edinburgh Live

08-05-2025

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Charli xcx was already building momentum long before her album "Brat summer" dominated the charts and timelines in 2024. However, it appears that fans have only recently uncovered the unusual story behind her stage name.
Charlotte Emma Aitchison, known by her stage name Charli xcx, made headlines in June 2024 with the release of her sixth studio album BRAT. The album's bold aesthetic, non-stop energy, and viral marketing campaign not only defined the summer but also introduced her music to a new and significantly larger audience.
Her rise to fame began with the 2014 hit Boom Clap, followed by the unapologetically playful Boys in 2017, which took over playlists everywhere. In 2018, she even served as the opening act for Taylor Swift's global Reputation stadium tour, occasionally joining Swift on stage for the crowd-pleaser Shake It Off.
Despite her growing discography and high-profile appearances, the meaning behind her stage name remained a mystery to some fans. As it turns out, the origin of her name is a nostalgic throwback.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
In a 2015 interview with Tanya Rad on On Air with Ryan Seacrest, Charli revealed that her now-famous stage name was inspired by her teenage MSN Messenger days, reports Surrey Live. "XCX was my MSN screen name when I was younger, which was really gnarly of me, I guess," she recalled. "It stood for kiss Charli kiss.
"When I first started playing my first shows, the promoter was like, 'What should I put on the flyer?' I was like 14 or 15, and I was like 'Uh, just put Charli xcx!' And it just kind of stuck from there."
At the 2015 Grammy Awards, she humorously remarked on the red carpet: "Gotta stick with it... I'm not gonna pull a Prince," in a playful reference to the iconic musician's decision to change his name to an unpronounceable symbol.
(Image: Getty Images)
Charli xcx has since etched her name into British pop history. Hailing from Cambridge and growing up in Essex, she has emerged as one of the UK's most innovative artists, earning both critical acclaim and commercial success.
Her album BRAT received widespread praise last year, bagging multiple awards including Album of the Year at the 2025 BRIT Awards, Artist of the Year, Best Dance Act, Song of the Year for 'Guess' (featuring Billie Eilish), and Songwriter of the Year. She also triumphed at the Grammys, winning Best Dance/Electronic Album and Best Recording Package.