Zahara Jolie drops Brad Pitt's surname at college graduation ceremony
Synopsis
At her college graduation, Zahara — daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt — had her name read as 'Zahara Marley Jolie', not Jolie-Pitt. It wasn't a slip: she has been quietly dropping her father's surname since at least November 2023, making this diploma moment the most public confirmation yet of a name she appears to have already chosen.
Key Takeaways
Zahara Marley Jolie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology , with her name announced without Brad Pitt's surname at the ceremony.
The official commencement programme listed her as Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt , but only 'Zahara Marley Jolie' was read aloud on stage.
She had previously used only the Jolie surname when joining the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in November 2023 .
At a Pearls of Purpose Foundation event in April , she described Jolie as 'the most selfless, loving and understanding woman.' Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are parents to six children; the couple separated in 2016 .
Zahara Marley Jolie, the eldest daughter of Hollywood star Angelina Jolie and actor Brad Pitt, dropped her father's surname as her name was read aloud during her college graduation ceremony, marking a public and symbolic step in her evolving identity. The moment drew widespread attention as Zahara walked across the stage to collect her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology diploma.
What Happened at the Ceremony
While the official commencement programme listed her as Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt, her name was announced as 'Zahara Marley Jolie' as she received her degree, according to reports. The distinction was not lost on observers — it was a deliberate, public signal of the name she has been gravitating toward for over a year.
A Pattern, Not a One-Off
This is not the first time Zahara has used only her mother's surname. She introduced herself as 'Zahara Marley Jolie' when she was welcomed into the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in November 2023. She also went by the same name when she appeared as a special guest at the Pearls of Purpose Foundation's Dearest Mother and Daughter brunch in April. The pattern suggests a considered, ongoing choice rather than a ceremonial anomaly.
Zahara's Words on Her Bond with Jolie
At the Pearls of Purpose event, Zahara spoke candidly about the relationship she shares with her mother. 'Our love for each other is a found one,' she said, in a video shared on Instagram. 'I was adopted at 6 months old and given some of the most special and loving people as my siblings, with a mom who raised us on the value of helping others, being kind and always striving for growth as people.'
She described Angelina Jolie as 'the most selfless, loving and understanding woman who I get to call my mom,' and credited her with modelling what it means to 'be a decent human being' in a world where, she noted, 'kindness is overlooked and helping others comes at a cost.'
Jolie on Zahara
The admiration is mutual. In a Time 100 Talk in July 2020, Jolie spoke of how much she has 'learned' from her daughter. 'She is my family, but she is an extraordinary African woman and her connection to her country, her continent, is her own and it's something I only stand back in awe of,' Jolie said.
Family Context
Zahara is one of six children shared by Jolie and Pitt, who separated in 2016 after a decade together. Their other children are sons Maddox, Pax, and Knox, and daughters Shiloh and Vivienne — the latter twins with Knox. The family has remained in the public eye through the couple's prolonged and well-documented legal proceedings. Zahara's name choice adds a personal dimension to what has been a very public family story.
Point of View
But its public staging — a graduation ceremony — makes it culturally legible. Children of high-profile separations navigating identity through surnames is not new, but the deliberateness here stands out: this is at least the third time she has used 'Jolie' alone in a formal context. What mainstream coverage tends to frame as celebrity gossip is, at its core, a 22-year-old asserting her own narrative in the middle of one of Hollywood's most-watched custody and legal disputes. The graduation moment will likely accelerate questions about the other Jolie-Pitt children's own choices as they reach adulthood.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Zahara drop Brad Pitt's surname at her graduation?
Zahara had her name announced as 'Zahara Marley Jolie' — without Brad Pitt's surname — as she walked across the stage to collect her degree. No official explanation has been given, but she has used only the Jolie surname in at least two prior public settings since November 2023, suggesting a deliberate personal choice.
What degree did Zahara Jolie graduate with?
Zahara graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, according to the college commencement programme.
When did Zahara first publicly use only the Jolie surname?
Zahara introduced herself as 'Zahara Marley Jolie' when she joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in November 2023 — the earliest publicly documented instance of her using only her mother's surname.
What did Zahara say about her relationship with Angelina Jolie?
At the Pearls of Purpose Foundation brunch in April, Zahara described their bond as 'a found one,' noting she was adopted at six months old. She called Jolie 'the most selfless, loving and understanding woman' and credited her with instilling values of kindness and helping others.
How many children do Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have together?
Jolie and Pitt have six children: sons Maddox, Pax, and Knox; and daughters Zahara, Shiloh, and Vivienne. Knox and Vivienne are twins. The couple separated in 2016.
