Sean Ono Lennon, John Lennon’s son, welcomes first baby and shares the highly unusual name
John Lennon’s first—and only—grandchild has been born. The legendary musical family’s newest arrival also received a name that few people would have predicted, one whose history reaches back almost 2,000 years.
Sean Ono Lennon was born in New York City in 1975 as the sole child of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. He spent only five years with his celebrated father before the Beatles icon was murdered outside the family’s Manhattan apartment on Dec. 8, 1980. John was 40 at the time.
For Sean, music later became much more than a profession. It gave him a way to remain connected to the father he lost before having the opportunity to really know him.
Sean, 50, explained to People in November 2024 that he had never taken up music because he believed he was especially talented. With his father absent, he largely came to know him through photographs and recordings. He described learning John’s guitar parts as a means of working through that loss while doing something that made the connection feel real.
He added that losing a parent can create a powerful desire to search for that person. Whenever Sean made music, he felt he was discovering and understanding his father a little more.
Over time, Sean established a musical identity of his own. He issued solo records, collaborated with his mother, Yoko Ono, now 93, and worked as a producer for performers such as Lana Del Rey. Music also led him to Charlotte Kemp Muhl.
Decades-long relationship
Sean and Charlotte, 39, first crossed paths at Coachella in 2005. They began dating two years afterward and eventually combined their relationship with their creative careers, performing together in the psychedelic-pop project The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger.
After nearly two decades as a couple, they have now made something entirely new together: Sean and Charlotte have announced the birth of their first child.
Created a Human Bean
They revealed the happy news on Sept. 1 and introduced their newborn son, Aurelius, through a lighthearted social-media message. Beside a picture of the couple holding the baby in a striped sleepsuit, Sean joked that he and Charlotte had indeed created a “Human Bean.” He then shared the boy’s name and thanked their followers.
Charlotte posted an announcement of her own, declaring that they had made a human. The model humorously said she was convinced DNA was a form of agentic alien quaternary code. Her accompanying picture showed her cuddling the baby while holding a crab in one hand.
She wrote that being deprived of sleep only intensified the surreal feeling, welcomed advice about burping techniques and added that their son had already been listening to Aphex Twin and Stravinsky.
Named after Roman Emperor—or saint
Neither parent explained the precise reason they selected Aurelius. Still, the unusual name has origins reaching all the way to ancient Rome. Coming from Latin, Aurelius is commonly interpreted as “golden” or “gilded.” Newsweek notes that numerous early saints carried the name as well.
The best-known Aurelius, however, is Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher and Roman emperor of the second century. His reign lasted from 161 to 180 AD and covered the closing years of the Pax Romana, an era of comparative peace across the Roman Empire that endured for roughly 200 years.
Sean and Charlotte may not have disclosed what led them to this choice, but their little “Human Bean” has entered the world with a name backed by close to 2,000 years of history.
Aurelius is also the first grandchild born to John Lennon and Yoko Ono, bringing a new generation into one of music’s most recognizable families.
Celebrities welcome Aurelius
Friends and followers quickly filled the announcement’s comments with congratulations, joining Sean and Charlotte in celebrating the new arrival.
Mary McCartney, daughter of Beatles legend Paul McCartney, was among those greeting Aurelius and affectionately called him a sweet pea. Lindsay Lohan congratulated the beautiful couple, while Elizabeth Jagger, the daughter of Mick Jagger, described the news as beautiful and offered her congratulations.
Michael Balzary—better known as Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers—also sent an enthusiastic message to the new parents, celebrating the magical news and the goodness of love.
Before you pass this story on, please leave your warmest wishes for Sean and Charlotte in the comments.
