Zahara Jolie Drops ‘Pitt’ — Legal Name Change Approved In Los Angeles

Judge Signs Off on Zahara’s Name Change

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s daughter Zahara has officially removed her father’s surname from her legal name, marking another development involving the former Hollywood couple’s children. A Los Angeles judge approved Zahara’s petition on Sept. 28, changing her name from Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt to Zahara Marley Jolie.

The courtroom action took place at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles—a familiar backdrop for many celebrity legal stories. Court records show there were no objections to the request, and the decree was signed and filed following a hearing.

Public Use of the Jolie Name Before the Ruling

Zahara, 21, had already been using the name Zahara Marley Jolie publicly before the court made the change permanent. At her May graduation from Spelman College in Atlanta, she was introduced by that name while receiving her diploma.

She also used the Jolie name during her Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority induction ceremony in November 2023, so the court ruling essentially formalized what many already knew and saw in public life.

How the Legal Process Played Out

Zahara filed her petition earlier this year, and legal notices concerning the proposed change were published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal. That publication is part of California’s name-change procedure and gives the public a chance to object before a hearing.

Her attorney, Peter Kenneth Levine, appeared remotely for Monday’s proceeding while Judge Virginia Keeny presided. With no objections filed, the judge signed the decree and the paperwork was filed, completing the formal step.

Family Pattern – Other Jolie-Pitt Children Have Followed Suit

Zahara’s decision comes amid a noticeable trend among Jolie and Pitt’s children moving away from using ‘Pitt’ in their names. Their eldest son, Maddox, 25, officially changed his name earlier in September from Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt to Maddox Chivan Jolie.

Shiloh, 20, made a similar move in 2024 by filing a petition to remove ‘Pitt’ shortly after turning 18. Vivienne, 18, has also petitioned to change her legal name and her request remains pending with a court hearing scheduled for November.

Where Knox and Pax Stand

Knox reportedly used Jolie rather than Jolie-Pitt on his high school diploma, while Pax, 22, hasn’t publicly announced a comparable legal name change. The siblings’ choices have unfolded publicly as part of a larger family story that many in Hollywood and beyond have followed closely.

Divorce Backdrop and Family Tensions

The developments have played out against the backdrop of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s prolonged separation and divorce. Jolie filed for divorce in September 2016 after two years of marriage. The former couple were declared legally single in 2019, but several issues related to their divorce continued for years.

Those remaining disputes were reportedly resolved when the pair reached a settlement in December 2024, though personal and family dynamics have continued to surface publicly as the children make their own decisions about names and identities.

Responses From People Close to Both Parents

The court filings don’t explain Zahara’s reasons in detail, and close family friends have offered differing takes on the name changes. One source voiced concern that the moves represented a pattern of distancing and fallout in the family; another source close to Jolie described the hearing as part of a routine legal timetable that had been scheduled months in advance.

“This was scheduled well ahead of time and treated like a standard step in the legal process,” a source close to Jolie said, noting the timeline and public appearances that already used the Jolie name.

With no official statement from Zahara herself in the public record, the legal change simply cements the name she’s been using among friends and at school. As the Jolie-Pitt children continue to come into their own, more changes and personal choices may follow.