Jolie and Pitt's elder children, Maddox and Zahara, to drop father's surname

Maddox, the eldest son of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, and his sister Zahara are proceeding with the legal process to remove their father's surname, Pitt. Both are expected to officially change their names by mid-September.

Maddox, 24, born in Cambodia and adopted by Jolie and later by Pitt, has initiated paperwork citing "personal reasons." He has informally used the Jolie surname, appearing as Maddox Jolie or Maddox Jolie-Pitt in film credits where he assisted his mother. His formal petition, filed in late May, seeks to be known as Maddox Chivan Jolie. Legal documents show his petition was published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal for four consecutive weeks, with a court hearing scheduled for September 14, 2026.

Zahara, 21, adopted from Ethiopia in 2005, is following a similar path. Her petition was also published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal, with her court date set for September 28. If no objections arise, she will legally become Zahara Marley Jolie. Zahara has already introduced herself by her chosen name at her university, Spelman College.

This decision by the elder children underscores a consistent alignment with their mother, Angelina Jolie, since the parents' separation a decade ago. Their younger siblings, Knox and Vivienne, who recently turned 18, are also reportedly seeking to drop the Pitt surname.