Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt, the youngest daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has become the latest of the former couple’s six children to seek the removal of “Pitt” from her surname. The 18-year-old recently filed a legal petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court requesting that her name be changed to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie, citing “personal” reasons in court documents. A hearing on the petition has been scheduled for November 2.
Vivienne’s decision adds to a growing list of Jolie-Pitt siblings who have either legally changed their names or publicly stopped using their father’s surname, reigniting interest in the family’s long-running personal and legal disputes.
Vivienne joins her siblings
Vivienne is now the fourth Jolie-Pitt child to take steps toward dropping the “Pitt” surname.
Shiloh Jolie successfully petitioned to legally remove “Pitt” from her name after turning 18 in 2024.
Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt has filed paperwork seeking to become Zahara Marley Jolie and has already been publicly using the name for some time.
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Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt has also begun the legal process to remove “Pitt” from his surname and has used Maddox Jolie professionally.
Vivienne had already been credited simply as “Vivienne Jolie” in the Playbill for the Broadway production The Outsiders, where she worked alongside her mother as a producer’s assistant, before filing her legal petition.
Why are they changing their names?
Neither Vivienne nor her siblings have publicly explained in detail why they want to remove “Pitt” from their surnames. Court documents related to Vivienne’s filing list the reason only as “personal.”
However, the developments come against the backdrop of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s highly publicised separation. The couple split in 2016, and their divorce was finalised only in late 2024 after years of legal proceedings. Their separation followed allegations stemming from a private plane incident involving the family. Pitt denied wrongdoing and was cleared following investigations by authorities.
The former couple also continues to be involved in legal disputes over their French winery, Château Miraval, while reports over the years have pointed to strained relationships between Pitt and several of his children.
A growing distance from the Pitt surname
The name changes have become symbolic of the family’s evolving dynamics. While some of the children have legally petitioned to remove “Pitt,” others have simply adopted “Jolie” in professional or public settings.
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Despite widespread speculation, neither Angelina Jolie nor Brad Pitt has publicly commented on Vivienne’s latest filing. Sources close to the family have offered differing perspectives on the children’s decisions, but no official explanation has been provided by the siblings themselves.
As Vivienne’s petition moves through the legal process, it marks another chapter in the continuing story of one of Hollywood’s most closely watched families.
FAQs
Which of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s children have dropped the ‘Pitt’ surname?
Vivienne has joined siblings Shiloh, Zahara and Maddox, who have either legally petitioned to remove “Pitt” from their surnames or publicly adopted the surname “Jolie.”
Why is Vivienne Jolie-Pitt changing her name?
Court documents state that Vivienne’s request is for “personal” reasons. She has not publicly shared a more detailed explanation for seeking the legal name change.
