Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt, the 24-year-old son of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has officially removed his father’s last name from his film credits. This change appeared in the production notes for his latest project, Couture, marking a new phase in his personal and professional identity.
Serving as an assistant director on Couture, Maddox’s decision to drop “Pitt” was highlighted during the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025, where journalists received production details listing his name without the Pitt surname. The drama premiered in French cinemas on February 18 and stars Angelina Jolie as an American film director confronting breast cancer just before a trip to Paris.
Family Background and Previous Name Changes Among Siblings
Maddox is the eldest of six children shared by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who separated in 2016 after two years of marriage. Alongside Maddox are Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne. Notably, Maddox is not the only child to have removed the Pitt surname. In 2023, Zahara dropped the surname while being introduced at her Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority event at Spelman College. Similarly, Vivienne’s name was listed as Vivienne Jolie in the program for the Broadway musical The Outsiders in 2024, a production she worked on with her mother.
Shiloh legally changed her name to Shiloh Jolie in August 2024, after filing the paperwork around her 18th birthday in May that year. These changes reflect a broader family pattern concerning surnames and identity.
Origins of the Family’s Naming Choices
The decision to alter their surnames fits into a history of name changes by both Angelina and Brad. Angelina Jolie was originally born Angelina Jolie Voight and chose to drop her father Jon Voight’s last name, adopting her middle name as her surname professionally. Brad Pitt’s legal name is William Bradley Pitt, but he adopted his middle name for his acting career. Given this precedent, it appears that some of their children are following a similar path in reshaping their identities.
Angelina’s Perspective on Her Children’s Careers and Public Life
Despite some of the children entering entertainment roles behind the scenes, Angelina Jolie has expressed that none of them are eager to pursue public acting careers. Speaking at the 2025 Santa Barbara Film Festival, she remarked,
“None of them are dying to be on screen,”
Angelina Jolie said of her kids during the 2025 Santa Barbara Film Festival, per People.
“They’re not interested. They really don’t like any of the celebrity part of it.”
Other Celebrity Children Who Have Changed or Dropped Their Last Names
Several other offspring of well-known celebrities have similarly altered their last names, often as part of their professional or personal identities.
Rosie O’Donnell and Kelli Carpenter’s adopted daughter Chelsea O’Donnell filed to change her surname to her birth mother Deanna (née Neuens) Micoley’s maiden name in January 2025, according to court documents.
Suri Cruise, daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, went by Suri Noelle—dropping her father’s surname—during her high school graduation ceremony in June 2024.
Malia Obama, daughter of former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, used only her first and middle names professionally, dropping “Obama” in her 2023 film credit for The Heart.
Shiloh Jolie-Pitt’s legal name change to Shiloh Jolie has already been noted, representing a formal part of this trend within the Jolie-Pitt family.
Olivia Jade Giannulli, daughter of designer Mossimo Giannulli and actress Lori Loughlin, uses “Olivia Jade” professionally as a social media influencer, omitting her last name.
Elle King, daughter of actor Rob Schneider, was born Tanner Elle Schneider but performs under the stage name Elle King, a combination of her middle name and her mother’s surname London King.
Samia Najimy Finnerty, daughter of actress Kathy Najimy and singer Dan Finnerty, dropped both family names to go by simply Samia for her career as a singer.
Nicolas Cage, originally Nicolas Kim Coppola and son of August Coppola and Joy Vogelsang, adopted his stage name inspired by the comic book character Luke Cage, choosing to leave behind the famous Coppola surname.
Willow Smith, daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, also dropped her surname, using simply WILLOW as her music stage name.
Significance and Possible Future Moves in Family Naming Practices
Maddox’s dropping of the Pitt surname indicates a continuing desire among the children of Jolie and Pitt to forge their own identities, distinct from the public shadows of their parents. This trend of changing or streamlining names among celebrity offspring often reveals a reluctance to be directly associated with their family’s fame or a preference to pursue unique career paths without the burden of such connections.
With Maddox stepping into filmmaking roles behind the camera, leaving behind his father’s surname in official credits may also signal a professional reinvention apart from Brad Pitt’s legacy. Observers can expect to see if Maddox’s siblings follow suit in future projects or legal name changes, shaping how the family’s next generation navigates fame and personal branding.
