Why Are Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's Children Dropping Their Father's Surname?
Jolie-Pitt Siblings Make a Bold Identity Shift
The Jolie-Pitt family is in the spotlight as four of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's six children have chosen to remove the ‘Pitt’ surname from their identities. This decision has gained attention as the siblings navigate their public personas, particularly Zahara Marley Jolie, who recently made headlines during her university graduation ceremony. Along with Zahara, siblings Vivienne, Shiloh, and Maddox have distanced themselves from their father's name, while Pax has not formally changed his name but has made critical remarks about their father that have echoed throughout Hollywood.
Zahara Marley Jolie celebrated her graduation with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Spelman College on May 17, 2026. Initially listed as ‘Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt’ in the commencement program, she opted to drop the ‘Pitt’ surname during the ceremony, as shown in a YouTube live stream of the event. In addition to her academic success, Zahara joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority in 2023, introducing herself without her father's surname. Reports suggest that Brad Pitt did not contact Zahara to acknowledge her graduation, with sources noting, “Nothing prevented him from showing up for her,” underscoring the ongoing family estrangement.
Shiloh Jolie, the third eldest, has also legally changed her name from Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt to Shiloh Nouvel Jolie. After turning 18 in 2024, she filed a petition to formalize this change, highlighting the growing divide within the family. Shiloh has further distanced herself from her father by using the name Shi Joli in her professional credits for notable choreography projects, marking a significant step toward her independence.
Vivienne Jolie, one of the younger siblings, has similarly opted to drop her father's surname, being credited simply as ‘Vivienne Jolie’ in the playbill for the Broadway musical ‘The Outsiders,’ where she served as a production assistant. While it remains uncertain if she has legally changed her name, this choice reflects a broader trend among her siblings to redefine their identities away from their father's legacy.
Maddox Chivan Jolie, the eldest sibling, has also made a significant change by being credited as Maddox Jolie in the film ‘Couture,’ where he worked as an assistant director. This marks a shift from his previous credits, which included the full Jolie-Pitt name. Meanwhile, Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt has not officially changed his name but made headlines with a critical Instagram post on Father’s Day 2020, where he labeled his father as a “terrible and despicable person.” The evolving dynamics within the Jolie-Pitt family continue to attract public interest, reflecting the complexities of their relationships following their parents' highly publicized divorce.