Attention has once again turned to the family of global stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie after their daughter Vivienne began formal legal proceedings aimed at removing her father’s surname from her legal name and using her mother’s family name instead. The move has attracted significant attention, particularly as it follows similar steps taken by some of her siblings in recent years. 📢

Vivienne is seeking to change her official name from Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie, making her mother’s surname her legal family name through proceedings filed before the appropriate court in California.

Vivienne Takes Legal Steps to Change Her Name

Vivienne, who is 18 years old, has already begun the legal process required to change her name. She obtained proof of publication for the legal notice related to her name-change request, which is one of the procedures required in California before a court can issue a final decision on such petitions.

As part of the process, the notice announcing her intention to change her name was published in a magazine on four consecutive occasions: July 24 and 31, followed by August 7 and 14.

Completing this step does not mean that the name change has already become final. The petition remains under judicial review, and the court has not yet issued a final decision approving or rejecting the request.

Why Does Vivienne Want to Remove Brad Pitt’s Name?

One of the most closely watched aspects of Vivienne’s decision is the lack of a publicly stated explanation for the request, particularly because her legal documents do not provide personal details about her motivation.

When asked in the court paperwork to state the reason for seeking the name change, Vivienne simply listed it as “personal”, without publicly explaining whether the decision is connected to her relationship with her father or to other circumstances in her personal life.

As a result, any explanations circulating about the reasons behind her decision remain speculation. The confirmed information is that Vivienne has officially filed a petition seeking to remove the “Pitt” surname from her name.

Vivienne Has Used Her Mother’s Name Before

Although the current move carries an official legal dimension, Vivienne’s use of her mother’s surname separately from her father’s name is not entirely new.

She previously appeared under the name Vivienne Jolie while working on the Broadway production of The Outsiders in May 2024. She was involved in the project alongside her mother Angelina Jolie, who was also connected to the production.

This indicates that the use of “Jolie” was already part of Vivienne’s public identity in certain professional settings before she began the formal legal process to change her name.

Her Siblings Have Taken Similar Steps

Vivienne’s decision also comes as part of a broader pattern within the family, as several of her siblings have previously taken similar steps toward using the “Jolie” name instead of the combined “Jolie-Pitt” surname.

Among them is Zahara, who is 21 and has also filed a formal petition seeking to change her name. She followed the required legal procedures, including publication of the notice connected to her request.

Maddox, who is 25, has also filed a similar petition seeking to remove the “Pitt” surname from his legal name.

The court is expected to consider Zahara’s petition during a hearing scheduled for September 28, while Maddox’s request has been scheduled for consideration on September 14.

Zahara Uses the Jolie Name Publicly

Zahara drew attention in May 2026 when she publicly used the name Zahara Marley Jolie during her graduation ceremony at Spelman College.

Although the official graduation program listed her full name as Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt, she was introduced to those attending the ceremony as “Zahara Marley Jolie,” providing another public example of her preference for using her mother’s surname on certain occasions.

These developments have increased public interest in the decisions made by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s children regarding their names, particularly as some of these choices have moved beyond informal public use and into formal legal proceedings.

Years of Conflict Between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

The latest developments come after years of separation and legal disputes between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The couple announced their separation in 2016, after which they became involved in prolonged legal proceedings concerning various personal and financial matters.

Throughout that period, the couple’s children largely remained away from the most public aspects of their parents’ disputes. However, the decision by some of them to use the “Jolie” surname instead of “Jolie-Pitt” has increasingly attracted public and media attention.

Still, there is no confirmed evidence that Vivienne’s decision is directly connected to the disputes between her parents, especially since she has not publicly disclosed the reason behind her petition.

The Final Decision Rests With the Court

⭐ For now, Vivienne’s case remains part of the legal process, meaning that her official name has not yet been permanently changed.

The court is expected to complete the necessary procedures before issuing a final decision, either approving or rejecting her request to remove “Pitt” from her legal name.

The development represents another notable chapter in the public story surrounding Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s children, particularly as more than one member of the family has moved toward using the “Jolie” surname separately from their father’s name.

Until the court issues its decision, Vivienne’s request remains a pending legal petition, while public attention continues to focus on whether the court will formally approve the removal of the “Pitt” surname from her name.