What's Happening?
Zahara Jolie, daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has officially had her petition to legally remove 'Pitt' from her last name approved by a judge. She will now legally be known as Zahara Marley Jolie. This change follows her public use of the name,
including introducing herself as Zahara Marley Jolie when joining Alpha Kappa Alpha at Spelman College in 2023 and at her college graduation earlier this year. Zahara filed the petition in June, with the request dating back to April, and completed California's legal notice requirement by publishing notice in the Los Angeles Daily Journal.
Why It's Important?
This legal name change signifies a notable development in the personal lives of the Jolie-Pitt children, reflecting individual choices regarding their identity. Zahara is now the third of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's six children to legally drop 'Pitt' from their last name, following Shiloh Jolie in 2024 and Maddox Jolie earlier this month. Their younger sister, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, has also filed to change her legal name to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie, with a hearing scheduled for November 2. These actions collectively indicate a trend among the children to distance themselves legally from their father's surname, which could have broader implications for their public personas and future endeavors.
What's Next?
With Zahara's name change now official, attention will likely turn to Vivienne Jolie-Pitt's upcoming hearing on November 2 regarding her own petition to change her legal name. The continued legal actions by the Jolie-Pitt children to remove 'Pitt' from their surnames suggest a sustained effort to redefine their identities independently. This trend may lead to further public discussion about family dynamics and personal autonomy within high-profile families. The children's choices could also influence how they are perceived in their respective careers and public engagements moving forward.
Beyond the Headlines
The repeated decisions by the Jolie-Pitt children to legally drop 'Pitt' from their names highlight the complex interplay between personal identity, family relationships, and public perception, especially within celebrity families. These actions, while personal, carry symbolic weight, potentially reflecting deeper shifts in family dynamics and individual agency. The children's choices to assert their identities through legal name changes could be seen as a broader commentary on the right to self-determination, even for those born into immense public scrutiny. This trend also underscores the evolving nature of family structures and the increasing emphasis on individual choice in defining one's own identity, irrespective of parental legacies.
