Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, the 18-year-old daughter of actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, has taken a significant step in formally distancing herself from her father’s name. She has initiated the legal process to drop the surname Pitt, publishing a formal notice in The Los Angeles Daily Journal. This action follows a pattern established by several of her older siblings who have also sought to change their legal names.
Formalizing a Name Change
The newspaper advertisement is a required procedural step in California for individuals seeking a legal name change. Vivienne’s notice ran weekly from July 24 to August 14. The court will consider her petition for a name change from Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie. A final hearing is scheduled for November 2, and the change can be approved if there are no objections filed before that date.
This move by Vivienne is not entirely unexpected, as she had previously omitted her father’s surname in the Playbill for the Broadway production of “The Outsiders.” In that instance, she was credited as Vivienne Jolie while working as a producer alongside her mother, Angelina Jolie. Vivienne, born in 2008, is the youngest of the former Hollywood couple’s six children.
Family Context and Siblings’ Actions
Vivienne’s decision to drop the Pitt surname is the latest development in a complex family dynamic. Court documents indicate the reason for her name change is listed as ‘personal.’ A source close to Angelina Jolie has suggested that the actress desires healing for the family, stating that if the full truth were known, there would be more sympathy for the children. This insider emphasized Jolie’s stance, noting, ‘Angie hasn’t been fighting and isn’t angry. She just wants everyone to heal.’
Vivienne is following the path of several of her siblings. Her older sisters, Zahara Jolie-Pitt, 21, and Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, 20, have also legally dropped their father’s surname. Zahara’s petition to change her name to Zahara Marley Jolie was published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal in June and July, with a hearing set for September 28. Shiloh, born Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, officially changed her name to Shiloh Jolie last year. Her lawyer at the time stated it was an ‘independent and significant decision following painful events.’
Her older brothers, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, 25, and Pax Jolie-Pitt, 22, have also taken steps to remove the Pitt surname. Notices for Maddox’s name change to Maddox Chivan Jolie were published in June and July, with a hearing scheduled for September 14. Maddox had previously filed his petition in late May. Zahara had also publicly used the name Zahara Marley Jolie for some time, including at her Spelman College graduation. While the exact status of Pax’s name change is not publicly confirmed, reports suggest his relationship with his father remains strained, with past public comments indicating significant estrangement.
Brad Pitt’s Perspective
Sources close to Brad Pitt have described the rift with his children as ‘deeply painful.’ One insider suggested that Pitt believes Angelina Jolie’s role in the unfolding family situation represents a significant betrayal. However, other sources have defended Pitt, asserting that he is not the absent father he is sometimes portrayed as and desires a relationship with his children. Pitt reportedly holds out hope that some of his children will eventually reconcile with him, viewing time as a potential healer for past wounds.
Conversely, sources close to Jolie have countered these perspectives, suggesting that Pitt ‘continues to play the victim’ and that his strained relationships with his children are a direct consequence of his past actions. Pitt has denied allegations of abuse stemming from a 2016 incident, and the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services cleared him of physical abuse allegations.
The Jolie-Pitt Family History
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, once a prominent Hollywood couple known as ‘Brangelina,’ were together for many years after meeting on the set of “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” in 2005. They married in 2014 and have six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne, and Knox. Maddox and Pax were adopted, with Pitt legally adopting Maddox before their marriage. Shiloh was born in 2006, followed by the twins Vivienne and Knox in 2008. Their high-profile relationship ended, leading to a protracted and reportedly acrimonious eight-year divorce battle that was finalized in 2024.
Vivienne’s twin brother, Knox, is currently the only one of the six siblings who has not yet formally initiated a legal process to drop the Pitt surname. Pitt has been in a relationship with jewelry designer Ines de Ramon for the past few years.
Conclusion
Vivienne Jolie-Pitt’s formal steps to change her name underscore a significant familial shift. The legal process, involving public notice, is a standard procedure for name changes and reflects a desire for personal identity separate from her father’s well-known surname. This action by the youngest daughter continues a trend among her siblings, highlighting the ongoing complexities and emotional landscape within the Jolie-Pitt family.
