Zahara Jolie’s Legal Name Change Finalizes Sibling Trend
A Los Angeles judge officially granted Zahara Jolie’s petition to drop her father Brad Pitt’s surname on September 28, 2026. The 21-year-old is now legally Zahara Marley Jolie, following a similar move by her brother Maddox. This marks the third of the couple’s six children to legally sever ties with the Pitt name, continuing a pattern that began with Shiloh Jolie in 2024.
Key points
- Judge Virginia Keeny approved Zahara’s name change petition on Sept. 28, 2026, with no recorded objections.
- Zahara had been using her mother’s surname publicly since joining Alpha Kappa Alpha at Spelman College in 2023.
- Her brother Maddox Chivan Jolie legally dropped the Pitt surname on Sept. 14, 2026.
- Sister Vivienne Jolie-Pitt has a hearing scheduled for Nov. 2, 2026, to finalize her name change.
- Shiloh Jolie completed her name change in August 2024, becoming the first sibling to do so.
Background
The Jolie-Pitt family has faced legal and personal tensions since their 2016 separation, which culminated in a divorce finalized in December 2024. Angelina Jolie alleged in 2022 that Brad Pitt assaulted her and their children during a 2016 private flight, allegations Pitt has denied. The children’s name changes are part of a broader pattern of distancing from their father, with Knox Jolie also informally dropping the surname from his high school diploma in June 2026.
How outlets are covering it
The Cut and USA Today report the name change as a routine legal process, noting that Zahara had been using her mother’s surname publicly for years. News.com.au frames the move as a 'decisive legal move' to distance herself from her father. Yahoo’s coverage, while largely obscured by technical code, suggests the name change is a 'fresh family blow' for Brad Pitt. The outlets agree on the facts but differ in tone, with some emphasizing the legal finality and others highlighting the emotional or familial implications.
Why it matters
The name changes signal a definitive break between the Jolie-Pitt children and their father, reflecting the long-standing tensions in the family. They also highlight the legal processes California requires for name changes, including public notice and judicial approval, and underscore the ongoing impact of the 2016 incident on the family’s public and private lives.
What to watch
Vivienne Jolie-Pitt’s name change hearing is scheduled for November 2, 2026. If approved, she will become the fourth sibling to legally drop the Pitt surname. The remaining children, Pax and Knox, have not yet pursued legal name changes, though Knox has informally dropped the name from his diploma.
- Zahara Jolie Has Legally Dropped Brad Pitt’s Name thecut.com
- Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s Daughter Zahara Becomes Their Third Child to Officially Drop Pitt from Last Name People.com
- Brad Pitt Faces Fresh Family Blow as Zahara’s Name Change Becomes Official — Report Yahoo
- Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt's daughter Zahara legally drops dad's last name USA Today
- A-listers’ daughter makes decisive legal move News.com.au
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