Maddox Jolie Pitt, the eldest son of actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has successfully petitioned to legally change his surname, dropping 'Pitt' from his name. A ruling by the Los Angeles County Superior Court on September 14, 2026, allows him to be officially known as Maddox Chivan Jolie.

The 25-year-old first filed for the name change on May 28, 2026. This decision comes in the wake of similar actions taken by his siblings, who have also distanced themselves from their father's surname following the couple's split in 2016.

Maddox is the first of Jolie and Pitt's six children to change his name. His siblings have followed suit, with Shiloh Jolie, 20, changing her name in August 2024, shortly after her 18th birthday. Shiloh had filed her petition on May 27, 2024, and has since been known simply as Shiloh Jolie.

Vivienne Jolie, one of the youngest siblings, has also opted to drop 'Pitt' from her name. She was credited as Vivienne Jolie in the May 2024 Playbill for the Broadway musical "The Outsiders," which her mother produced. Vivienne filed her petition to change her surname in July 2026, citing personal reasons. Her court hearing is scheduled for November 2, 2026.

Zahara Jolie, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology on May 17, 2026, also chose to drop her father's surname. Although she was listed as Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt in the commencement program, her name was read as Zahara Marley Jolie during the ceremony. Zahara filed her legal name change in June 2026, shortly after Maddox's request, and her hearing is set for September 28, 2026.

The name changes reflect a significant shift for the Jolie-Pitt children, who are asserting their identities separate from their father's legacy. As they navigate their adult lives, these changes may symbolize a desire for independence from their parents' highly publicized relationship.