Vivienne Jolie files to drop 'Pitt' surname: Why Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's children are making the change

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s family has once again found itself in the spotlight after their youngest daughter, Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt, filed a legal request to remove “Pitt” from her surname. Her move makes her the latest among the former couple’s six children to either legally or publicly stop using their father’s last name.

According to court records cited by People, The Independent and Page Six, Vivienne filed her petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court shortly after turning 18. The filing lists the reason for the requested name change simply as “personal.” A hearing on the matter is scheduled for November 2.

Vivienne becomes the fourth child to seek a surname change

Vivienne has asked the court to legally change her name from Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie. Her middle name, Marcheline, is a tribute to Angelina Jolie’s late mother, Marcheline Bertrand, who died in 2007.


Although this is her first legal step, Vivienne had already been using only "Jolie" publicly. In 2024, she was credited as Vivienne Jolie in the Playbill for the Broadway production The Outsiders, where she worked as a producer's assistant alongside her mother.

She had also appeared in Maleficent as a child, playing a young Princess Aurora opposite Jolie.

Which of the siblings have dropped the Pitt surname?

Vivienne is not the first among the siblings to move away from the Pitt surname.

Shiloh filed a petition to legally remove "Pitt" from her name soon after turning 18 in 2024. The request was later approved, and she now goes by Shiloh Jolie.

Earlier this year, both Zahara and Maddox also started the legal process to change their names. Zahara has already been using Zahara Marley Jolie publicly since introducing herself that way during a university sorority event in 2023. Maddox, meanwhile, was credited as Maddox Jolie while working as an assistant director on Jolie's film Couture.

Reports from Page Six also said that Knox appeared to use Knox Jolie on his high school diploma, though he has not publicly filed a legal petition.

Why are the children changing their names?

None of the children has publicly explained their individual reasons for dropping the Pitt surname. Court filings from Vivienne, Shiloh and others have only listed the reason as "personal."

The developments, however, come years after Jolie and Pitt's highly publicised separation. The actors split in 2016 after an incident aboard a private plane that resulted in investigations following allegations involving Pitt and the family. Pitt was later cleared after an FBI review, and his representatives have previously denied allegations made against him.

Their divorce was finalised in 2024 after more than eight years of legal proceedings.

Jolie's reported focus after the legal filings

According to Page Six, a source close to Angelina Jolie said the actress is focused on moving forward rather than continuing conflict.

“Angie hasn’t been fighting and isn’t angry. She just wants everyone to heal,” the source said.

The insider added, “If people knew the whole truth they would have more sympathy for the children and respect them. The fact they aren’t speaking ill or sharing things publicly only shows their decency.”

Representatives for both Jolie and Pitt did not immediately comment to Page Six following Vivienne's filing.

Meanwhile, reports have also said Pitt continues to hope that relationships with his children can improve over time. While some of the siblings have distanced themselves from using his surname, Page Six reported that Pax still maintains a relationship with members of Pitt's extended family despite reportedly having limited contact with the actor himself.