Zahara Jolie-Pitt files to drop 'Pitt' name, third Jolie-Pitt child to do so
Synopsis
Zahara Jolie-Pitt has filed in a California court to legally drop 'Pitt' from her surname — the third of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's six children to do so. Coming just days after brother Maddox filed a similar petition, and years after sister Shiloh was granted the change, the pattern signals a sweeping generational break from the Pitt name.
Key Takeaways
Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt , 21 , filed a name-change petition in the Superior Court of California on 28 April .
She is the third Jolie-Pitt child to file to drop 'Pitt,' after Shiloh (granted in 2024 ) and Maddox (filed shortly before Zahara).
Jolie and Pitt separated in 2016 ; their divorce was finalised in December 2024 .
Zahara previously introduced herself as 'Zahara Marley Jolie' at her Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority induction in August 2024 and was announced under that name at her Atlanta graduation on 17 May .
A source close to Brad Pitt called the repeated filings 'sad,' citing alleged parental alienation.
Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt, the 21-year-old daughter of Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has officially filed a petition in the Superior Court of California to legally remove 'Pitt' from her surname, court documents obtained by People.com reveal. The filing, dated 28 April, makes Zahara the third child of the former couple to pursue the name change.
The Filing and Its Timeline
Zahara's petition was submitted just days after her older brother Maddox Jolie, 24, filed his own name-change petition to drop 'Pitt' from his surname. The filings follow the couple's separation in 2016 after more than a decade together and two years of marriage, with their divorce formally finalised in December 2024.
Jolie and Pitt share six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne.
A Pattern Among the Children
Zahara is now the third Jolie-Pitt child to legally move away from the 'Pitt' name. Shiloh Jolie was granted her name change in 2024 and now goes by Shiloh Jolie. Maddox recently dropped 'Pitt' from his credits in Jolie's latest film, Couture. Meanwhile, Vivienne was credited as 'Vivienne Jolie' — not Vivienne Jolie-Pitt — in the May 2024 Playbill for the Broadway musical The Outsiders, which she helped her mother produce, though it was not confirmed at the time whether she had legally changed her name.
Zahara's Prior Signals
Zahara had hinted at the change on multiple occasions before the formal filing. Most notably, when she walked the stage at her college graduation in Atlanta on 17 May, her name appeared in the commencement programme as 'Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt,' but was announced as 'Zahara Marley Jolie' when she received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology diploma.
In an August 2024 video recorded as she joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Zahara introduced herself saying: 'My name is Zahara Marley Jolie. And landed all the way from the Golden State in the city full of angels: Los Angeles, California.'
Pitt's Side Responds
A source described as close to Brad Pitt expressed disappointment over the developments. 'It's sad to see someone repeatedly publicize their successful alienation of their children from the other parent,' the source said, according to reports. Pitt's representatives have not issued an official public statement on the filings.
What Comes Next
With Zahara's petition now before the California court, a formal ruling is expected in due course. The broader question of whether the remaining Jolie-Pitt children — Pax, Knox, and Vivienne — will follow suit remains open, and the family's legal proceedings continue to draw significant public attention.
Point of View
Each independent and each going through California courts, suggest a sustained, deliberate process rather than a single emotional decision. What mainstream coverage underplays is the legal significance: California name-change petitions require a hearing and judicial approval, meaning these are not informal social choices. The source close to Pitt invoking 'parental alienation' is a loaded legal term in custody jurisprudence — its use, even off the record, signals that the dispute may have dimensions beyond what has been publicly litigated.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Zahara Jolie-Pitt filing to drop 'Pitt' from her name?
Zahara, 21, has filed a petition in the Superior Court of California to legally remove 'Pitt' from her surname, becoming the third Jolie-Pitt child to do so. No official reason has been stated publicly, but the filing follows her parents' divorce finalised in December 2024 and mirrors similar petitions by siblings Maddox and Shiloh.
Which other Jolie-Pitt children have dropped the 'Pitt' name?
Shiloh was granted a legal name change in 2024 and now goes by Shiloh Jolie. Maddox filed his own petition shortly before Zahara. Vivienne was credited as 'Vivienne Jolie' in a May 2024 Broadway Playbill, though it was not confirmed at the time whether she had legally changed her name.
When did Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's divorce get finalised?
Their divorce was formally finalised in December 2024. The couple had separated in 2016 after more than a decade together, including two years of marriage.
What signals did Zahara give before filing the name-change petition?
In August 2024, Zahara introduced herself as 'Zahara Marley Jolie' during her Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority induction. At her college graduation in Atlanta on 17 May, she was announced under the same name when receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology diploma, even though the programme listed her full hyphenated name.
How has Brad Pitt's camp responded to the name-change filings?
A source described as close to Brad Pitt told reporters it was 'sad to see someone repeatedly publicize their successful alienation of their children from the other parent.' Pitt's representatives have not issued a formal public statement on the petitions.
