Maddox, being the eldest son of Hollywood celebrities Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has filed a legal document asking for the removal of "Pitt" in his surname, making him another one in the list of members from the Jolie-Pitt family who wants to drop their name.
Court papers obtained by E! News show that Maddox, now aged 24, seeks to change his name from Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt to Maddox Chivan Jolie, continuing what appears to be a trend made by a number of his siblings in recent years.
Although neither Maddox nor any of his representatives gave a reason why they want to make such a step, this is another development after the changes that Maddox has already done in his career path.
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Maddox previously appeared in the credits of Couture, a film led by Angelina Jolie, under the name Maddox Jolie. The same name was reportedly used in production material distributed during the film's premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025.
Not the first Jolie-Pitt child to make the change
It appears that Maddox is not alone in his desire to move away from the last name Jolie-Pitt. Recently, Maddox’s sister, Zahara, who was initiated into the sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, introduced herself under the name “Zahara Marley Jolie.”
This occurred while attending Spelman College in 2023. Moreover, Zahara used her new name when graduating from Spelman University. Another sister, Vivienne, was listed under the name Vivienne Jolie in The Outsiders’ playbill.
X/ EstiloDF The most formal change before Maddox came from Shiloh, who legally petitioned to remove "Pitt" from her surname on her 18th birthday in 2024. The request was approved later that year, officially making her Shiloh Jolie.
Together, these developments have fuelled renewed interest in the family's post-divorce dynamics, although none of the children have publicly connected the name changes to their parents' long-running legal disputes.
A family familiar with name changes
The decision also reflects a broader family history. Angelina Jolie herself was born Angelina Jolie Voight but dropped her father Jon Voight's surname early in her career. Brad Pitt's legal name is William Bradley Pitt, though he has long used a shortened version professionally.
Jolie and Pitt, once one of Hollywood's most influential couples, separated in 2016. They share six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne.
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Celebrity life not a priority
Despite growing public interest in their family, Angelina Jolie has previously indicated that her children are not particularly interested in celebrity culture.
Speaking at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival earlier this year, the actor said her children have little desire to pursue fame despite growing up in one of Hollywood's most famous families.
"None of them are dying to be on screen. They're not interested. They really don't like any of the celebrity part of it," Jolie said.
For now, Maddox's filing remains a legal request awaiting completion. Yet it has once again drawn attention to a family whose personal decisions continue to generate public interest long after one of Hollywood's most closely watched relationships came to an end.
