Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt, the eldest son of actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has officially changed his surname to Jolie. A Los Angeles judge approved his petition on Monday, September 14, to legally remove his father’s last name, making his name Maddox Chivan Jolie.
The court’s decision, documented in a minute order, stated, “There are no objections, the petition for change of name is granted.” The decree has been signed and filed, formalizing the change from Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt to Maddox Chivan Jolie. This legal alteration aligns with a name Maddox has already been using in professional contexts, including his work on his mother’s film Couture.
Maddox’s Name Change Process
Maddox, who is 25 years old, attended the remote court hearing with his attorney, Peter Kenneth Levine. The proceedings took place at the Los Angeles Superior Court’s Stanley Mosk Courthouse, with Judge Virginia Keeny presiding. The initial petition for the name change was filed in May, with Maddox citing “personal” reasons for the request.
In July, both Maddox and his younger sister Zahara published newspaper notices to announce their respective applications to drop the surname “Pitt.” While the court ruling on September 14 confirms Maddox’s legal name change, he has not publicly shared specific details regarding the personal motivations behind his decision.
Following in His Mother’s Filmmaking Footsteps
Maddox Jolie has been actively building experience behind the camera, often collaborating with his mother, Angelina Jolie, on film sets. His work as an assistant director on Couture, which premiered in French cinemas in February, was credited under the name Maddox Jolie. This followed his involvement in the 2024 biographical drama Maria, where he and his brother Pax also contributed. In Maria, Angelina Jolie portrayed the renowned opera singer Maria Callas.
The brothers’ collaboration extended to Angelina’s directorial project Without Blood. Salma Hayek Pinault, who starred in the film, spoke positively about the Jolie brothers’ professionalism and the respect they garnered from the film crew during an interview at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.
Other Jolie-Pitt Children and Name Changes
Maddox is not the only one of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s children to have recently altered their legal names or expressed intentions to do so. Several siblings have also pursued name changes:
- Shiloh Jolie: Maddox’s younger sister, Shiloh, legally changed her name to Shiloh Nouvel Jolie in August 2024, shortly after turning 18. She had submitted her request in May of the same year.
- Zahara Jolie: Zahara, aged 21, has applied to change her name to Zahara Marley Jolie. Her court hearing was scheduled for September 28. She has already been using this name publicly, notably during her graduation from Spelman College in May.
- Vivienne Jolie: In July, Vivienne submitted a petition to change her name to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie, honoring her late grandmother Marcheline Bertrand. She had previously been credited as Vivienne Jolie for her work on the Broadway production of The Outsiders, alongside her mother.
- Knox Jolie: Vivienne’s twin brother, Knox, reportedly used the name Knox Jolie on his high-school diploma, indicating a similar inclination towards shortening the family surname.
It is important to note that publicly using a shortened surname does not automatically confirm a legal name change. However, the trend among the elder children suggests a collective move towards adopting a surname associated solely with their mother.
Family Background and Parental Support
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt share six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne. The former couple finalized their divorce settlement in December 2024, more than eight years after Jolie initially filed for divorce in September 2016.
Angelina Jolie has spoken in the past about the significant support she received from her sons, particularly Maddox and Pax, during the filming of Maria. In a 2024 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she described how their presence helped her navigate emotionally challenging scenes. “When I would have really heavy times, they would come over and just give me a hug or a cup of tea,” she recalled. She also mentioned that having her children on set allowed them to witness a different side of her, including moments of vulnerability.
Speaking at the Gotham Awards in December 2024, Jolie expressed her happiness at being with her children during the demanding filming process, adding, “I was so happy to be with them, and definitely they saw me terrified.” The shared creative experiences and familial support underscore a strong bond within the family, even amidst public scrutiny and personal changes.
