Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt's daughter Zahara seeks to drop 'Pitt' from surname
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's daughter, Zahara, has legally moved closer to dropping 'Pitt' from her surname. This follows a trend among their children, including Maddox and Shiloh, who have also distanced themselves from the 'Pitt' surname amid ongoing family tensions.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's daughter, Zahara, has taken another step towards officially dropping "Pitt" from her surname. The 21-year-old has completed a key legal requirement in California as part of her petition to change her name to Zahara Marley Jolie.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Zahara published notice of her name-change petition in the Los Angeles Daily Journal once a week for four consecutive weeks, as required under California law. The notices appeared on June 16, June 23, June 30 and July 7.
TMZ reported that Zahara filed the petition in June to legally change her name from Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt to Zahara Marley Jolie. Anyone wishing to oppose the request was required to file a written objection before the final hearing, which is scheduled for September 28. If no objections are raised, a judge is expected to approve the name change.
The move formalises a decision Zahara has already reflected publicly. According to TMZ, she has not been using Brad Pitt's surname for some time. In 2023, while joining the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at Spelman College, she introduced herself as "Zahara Marley Jolie". She was also referred to by the same name during her graduation ceremony earlier this month.
Zahara is not the only one among the former couple's children to distance herself from the surname. Her sister Shiloh legally dropped "Pitt" from her name in 2024 after following the same legal process.
TMZ also reported that Maddox and Vivienne have stopped using "Pitt" publicly in recent years, while E! News reported that eldest son Maddox has now filed to legally remove the surname as well. According to court documents obtained by the outlet, the 24-year-old has petitioned to change his name from Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt to Maddox Chivan Jolie.
Maddox had already begun using "Jolie" professionally while serving as an assistant director on Couture, a film starring Angelina Jolie. He was credited as Maddox Jolie, and the same name appeared in the film's production notes at its premiere during the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025.
TMZ also quoted a source close to Brad Pitt as saying the actor believes Angelina Jolie is responsible for the strained relationship between him and their children, describing the latest development as part of a "very sad and never-ending campaign to alienate children from their father."
Jolie, 50, and Pitt, 62, separated in 2016 after two years of marriage. They share six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's daughter, Zahara, has taken another step towards officially dropping "Pitt" from her surname. The 21-year-old has completed a key legal requirement in California as part of her petition to change her name to Zahara Marley Jolie.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Zahara published notice of her name-change petition in the Los Angeles Daily Journal once a week for four consecutive weeks, as required under California law. The notices appeared on June 16, June 23, June 30 and July 7.
TMZ reported that Zahara filed the petition in June to legally change her name from Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt to Zahara Marley Jolie. Anyone wishing to oppose the request was required to file a written objection before the final hearing, which is scheduled for September 28. If no objections are raised, a judge is expected to approve the name change.
The move formalises a decision Zahara has already reflected publicly. According to TMZ, she has not been using Brad Pitt's surname for some time. In 2023, while joining the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at Spelman College, she introduced herself as "Zahara Marley Jolie". She was also referred to by the same name during her graduation ceremony earlier this month.
Zahara is not the only one among the former couple's children to distance herself from the surname. Her sister Shiloh legally dropped "Pitt" from her name in 2024 after following the same legal process.
TMZ also reported that Maddox and Vivienne have stopped using "Pitt" publicly in recent years, while E! News reported that eldest son Maddox has now filed to legally remove the surname as well. According to court documents obtained by the outlet, the 24-year-old has petitioned to change his name from Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt to Maddox Chivan Jolie.
Maddox had already begun using "Jolie" professionally while serving as an assistant director on Couture, a film starring Angelina Jolie. He was credited as Maddox Jolie, and the same name appeared in the film's production notes at its premiere during the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025.
TMZ also quoted a source close to Brad Pitt as saying the actor believes Angelina Jolie is responsible for the strained relationship between him and their children, describing the latest development as part of a "very sad and never-ending campaign to alienate children from their father."
Jolie, 50, and Pitt, 62, separated in 2016 after two years of marriage. They share six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne.
