Charli xcx fans are only just learning the 'gnarly' story behind her name
Long before "Brat summer" took over the 2024 music scene, Charli xcx was steadily climbing to fame. Yet, it appears that her fans are only now discovering the unique origin of her stage name.
Charlotte Emma Aitchison, known in the pop world as Charli xcx, grabbed headlines in June 2024 upon releasing her sixth studio album BRAT. The album's striking style, unstoppable vigour and a viral promotional campaign catapulted her into public consciousness, significantly amplifying her listener base.
She first gained recognition with her 2014 hit Boom Clap and then maintained momentum with the bold single Boys in 2017, which quickly became a mainstay on playlists. Charli also supported Taylor Swift during the 2018 international Reputation stadium tour, occasionally joining the megastar for performances of Shake It Off.
Despite her growing body of work and numerous notable gigs, many remain unaware of the backstory to Charli xcx's moniker. A nostalgic trip down memory lane uncovers the truth behind her name.
In a 2015 interaction on On Air with Ryan Seacrest, Charli told Tanya Rad that her celebrated alias originated from her early MSN Messenger nickname, reports Surrey Live. "XCX was my MSN screen name when I was younger, which was really gnarly of me, I guess," she said. "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."
She brought up her stage name again at the 2015 Grammy Awards, quipping on the red carpet: "Gotta stick with it... I'm not gonna pull a Prince," giving a playful nod to the iconic musician's well-known switch to an unpronounceable symbol.
Years on, Charli xcx has 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.
Last year, her album BRAT received widespread praise, bagging multiple honours, 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. Additionally, she took home Grammys for Best Dance/Electronic Album and Best Recording Package.
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