Japanese pop group XG has announced a name change a month after one of its members came out as nonbinary.

As Billboard reports, the seven-member group’s record label, Xgalx, put out a January 12 press release announcing that “XG” no longer stands for “Xtraordinary Girls,” as the moniker has since the launch of the group’s social media presence in early 2022. Instead, the initials now stand for “Xtraordinary Genes.”

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According to Billboard, the statement explained that the change marks “a symbolic milestone for the group as all seven members have entered their 20s, signaling a new phase of artistic and personal growth.”

The new name “represents the innate creativity, individuality and forward-thinking energy embedded within each member of XG,” the statement reads. “More than a rebrand, the shift serves as a declaration of evolution – from their starting point to the source that drives their artistry – as the group continues shaping culture without boundaries.”

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The change also comes a month after member Cocona’s announcement that they are transmasculine nonbinary. In a December 8 post to XG’s official Instagram account, Cocona shared that they had received top surgery earlier in 2025.

“I was born and perceived as female, but that label never represented who I truly am. I live in a way that feels more masculine and true to who I am,” they wrote in the post’s caption. “The hardest thing I’ve ever faced was accepting and embracing myself. But as I slowly began to do that, I was able to open a new door.”

“Now, I can finally say, ‘There’s nothing wrong with who I am inside,’” they added.

The post, shared on Cocona’s 20th birthday, also included a series of photos of the artist wearing a green velvet suit, with no shirt underneath. What appear to be top surgery scars are clearly visible on their torso.

“May these words gently light a spark in someone’s heart,” Cocona wrote. “And to everyone who needs it — may my love reach all of them.”

XG’s debut album, The Core, is due out January 23. The group will kick off a world tour in February.

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