Ten years after their high-profile separation, the children of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are increasingly distancing themselves from their father’s surname. The former Hollywood power couple, who met in 2003 on the set of *Mr. & Mrs. Smith*, married in 2014 at their private estate in France and raised six children—three adopted and three biological—before their divorce in 2016. Now, multiple offspring are legally removing “Pitt” from their names, signaling a shift in their public identities.
The latest developments involve Zahara Jolie-Pitt, 21, and Maddox Jolie-Pitt, 24, who have filed petitions in Los Angeles to change their surnames. Court documents confirm Zahara intends to be known as Zahara Marley Jolie, while Maddox will adopt Maddox Chivan Jolie. Both were initially adopted by Angelina in 2005 and 2002, respectively, and later by Brad. The name changes, required by California law, include public notices in the *Los Angeles Daily Journal* to allow objections before final approval hearings in late September.
This trend follows similar actions by other children in the family. In 2024, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, the couple’s eldest biological daughter, became the first to legally drop her father’s name at age 18. Public records indicate she funded and managed the process independently. Meanwhile, 17-year-old Knox Jolie-Pitt appears to have informally abandoned the surname, though no legal filings have been confirmed. Adopted son Pax, 22, has not filed for a name change but has publicly criticized his father in social media posts, calling him a “world-class a*hole” during a 2024 Father’s Day message.
The legal and emotional dynamics surrounding these name changes trace back to the 2016 divorce. Angelina cited irreconcilable differences and later detailed physical abuse allegations against Brad, including claims he choked one child and struck another. An FBI and child services investigation found injuries on Angelina but no criminal charges were filed. Brad has consistently denied the accusations. The fallout has left the children navigating complex decisions about their identities in the public eye.
As the legal processes unfold, the children’s choices reflect broader tensions within the family. While some have taken formal steps to redefine their names, others remain publicly neutral. The decisions underscore the lasting impact of the parents’ split on their children, who continue to shape their own paths amid widespread media scrutiny.
