John Lennon’s first and only grandchild has arrived – and the newest member of the legendary family has been given a name few would have expected, with roots stretching back nearly 2,000 years.
Born in New York City in 1975, Sean Ono Lennon was the only child of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, but he had just five years with his famous father before the Beatles legend was shot and killed outside the family’s Manhattan apartment building on Dec. 8, 1980. John was 40.
In the years that followed, music became more than a career for Sean; it offered him a way to hold onto a father he had lost before he had the chance to truly know him.
“I never played music because I was good at it,” Sean, 50, told People in November 2024. “I grew up mostly knowing my dad through pictures and recordings, because he wasn’t around…I lost my father and I didn’t know how to fill that void. Learning how to play his songs on guitar was a way to process the loss with an activity that made me feel connected to him.”
“When you’ve lost a parent, things like that motivate you – because you’re trying to find them. Making music always made me feel like I was getting to know him better,” he added.
Sean eventually carved out his own career, releasing solo albums, working with his mother – 93-year-old Yoko Ono – and producing for artists including Lana Del Rey.
But music also brought Charlotte Kemp Muhl into his life.
Decades-long relationship
Sean and Charlotte, 39, met at Coachella in 2005 and became a couple two years later, building a relationship that crossed into their professional lives as they made music together as the psychedelic pop band, The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger.
Nearly two decades later, the pair have created something entirely different together, with the couple announcing that they are now parents to their first child.
‘Created a Human Bean’
The couple shared the news on Sept. 1, introducing their son Aurelius in a playful post on social media.
“Okay so…Charlotte and I would like to announce that we have indeed created a Human Bean!” Sean wrote alongside a photo showing the couple cradling their newborn, who was dressed in a striped sleepsuit. “His name is, Aurelius! Thank you!”
Meanwhile, Charlotte also shared her own announcement, writing, “We made a human! Am convinced DNA is agentic alien quaternary code,” the model wrote alongside an image that shows her holding a crab with one hand while snuggling the newborn with the other. “The sleep deprivation only adds to the surrealism…Burping technique tips welcome. Been playing him Aphex Twin and Stravinsky.”
Named after Roman Emperor – or saint
The couple didn’t explain why they settled on Aurelius, but their son’s distinctive name can be traced all the way back to ancient Rome.
Derived from Latin, Aurelius is generally understood to mean “golden” or “gilded,” and according to Newsweek, the name was also shared by many a number of early saints.
Its most famous bearer, however, was Marcus Aurelius, the second-century Roman emperor and philosopher who ruled from 161 to 180 AD, during the final years of the Pax Romana – a roughly 200-year period of relative peace across the Roman Empire.
So, while Sean and Charlotte haven’t revealed what inspired their choice, their little “Human Bean” certainly arrived with a name carrying nearly 2,000 years of history.
The announcement also makes Aurelius the first grandchild of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, adding another generation to one of the most famous families in music.
Celebrities welcome Aurelius
And Sean and Charlotte weren’t the only ones celebrating the new arrival, as congratulations quickly poured in beneath the announcement from friends and followers.
Among those welcoming Aurelius was Mary McCartney, the daughter of Beatles’ legend Paul McCartney.
“Sweet pea!!!” she wrote in the comment section of his Instagram announcement.
Lindsay Lohan chimed in, writing, “Congratulations to the beautiful couple!!!” while Elizabeth Jagger, Mick Jagger’s daughter, added, “So beautiful, congratulations!”
Michael Balzary – better known as Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, also offered some words to the new parents: “WOW!!! Congratulations magic magic!!! love is so good,” he wrote.
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