Maddox Jolie-Pitt legally drops father Brad Pitt's surname

A Los Angeles court has approved a petition by Maddox, the eldest son of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, to change his legal surname from Jolie-Pitt to Jolie. Court documents state no objections were filed against the change, and Maddox took part in the hearing remotely alongside his lawyer.

Maddox filed the petition back in May, citing "personal reasons" without elaborating further in public. Even before the court's ruling, he had already begun using only his mother's surname professionally — he was credited as Maddox Jolie while working on Angelina Jolie's film "Couture." Maddox has increasingly taken on behind-the-camera roles; he previously worked alongside his brother Pax on the film "Maria," in which Jolie portrayed opera singer Maria Callas.

A pattern among the siblings

Maddox is not the first of the couple's children to stop using his father's surname. Daughter Shiloh legally changed her name to Jolie in 2024 after turning 18, while Zahara has filed a petition to become Zahara Marley Jolie. Vivienne has also begun the legal process to drop the Pitt surname, and her twin brother Knox has already publicly used the form "Knox Jolie," including in school documents. Pax remains the only one of the six children who has not filed a publicly known petition to change his surname.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are parents to six children — Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne. Jolie filed for divorce in September 2016, but the former couple only finalized their settlement in December 2024, more than eight years after their split.