If you thought the Jolie-Pitt family saga had settled down, think again. Maddox Chivan Jolie — formerly Jolie-Pitt — has officially filed legal documents to remove “Pitt” from his name entirely. The 24-year-old, who was first adopted by Angelina in 2002 before Brad legally adopted him in 2006, cited the reason simply as “personal.” Short answer. Loud statement.
The move wasn’t completely out of nowhere. Earlier this year, Maddox appeared in the credits of his mom’s film Couture — where he worked as assistant director — listed plainly as “Maddox Jolie.” Compare that to 2024’s Maria, where he was still “Maddox Jolie-Pitt.” The gradual fade-out of the Pitt name has been happening in real time, and the legal filing just made it permanent.
“He will now go by Maddox Chivan Jolie. His reason? ‘Personal.’ And honestly, that one word says everything.”
It’s not just Maddox — it’s a pattern
Here’s the part that really puts things in perspective: Maddox is the fourth of Brad and Angelina’s six children to distance themselves from their father’s last name. At this point, it’s not a coincidence — it’s a trend.
| Child | Age | Status | Year |
| Zahara | 21 | Dropped Pitt | 2023 |
| Vivienne | 17 | Dropped Pitt | 2024 |
| Shiloh | 19 | Legal change | 2024 |
| Maddox | 24 | Legal filing | 2026 |
| Pax | 22 | No change yet | — |
| Knox | 17 | No change yet | — |
Shiloh kicked things off after turning 18, filing to legally change her name — a move her attorney described as “an independent and significant decision following painful events.” Zahara introduced herself as “Zahara Marley Jolie” at her Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority ceremony. And Vivienne went by “Vivienne Jolie” on the playbill for Broadway’s The Outsiders, a production she co-produced with her mom.
Where is Brad in all of this?
Brad has reportedly not issued any public comment on Maddox’s filing — his rep didn’t respond to press inquiries. But sources close to the actor have previously told outlets that Brad remains “aware and upset” about his kids dropping his name, and that he isn’t ready to give up on rebuilding those relationships, even as they continue to feel like a long shot.
Meanwhile, Brad has moved forward with his personal life, going public with jewelry designer Ines de Ramon at a Formula One event tied to his upcoming racing film. His professional world is full speed ahead — his family life, it seems, is a different story.
The bigger picture: it’s actually a family tradition
Here’s something that puts a slightly different spin on things — name-changing isn’t exactly foreign to either parent. Angelina was born Angelina Jolie Voight before she dropped her estranged father Jon Voight’s surname. Brad himself — legally William Bradley Pitt — chose to go by his middle name when he entered the industry. So in a way, the kids are just following a very established tradition: when a name no longer fits who you are, you change it.
“When a name no longer fits who you are, you change it. Apparently, it runs in the family.”
Angelina, for her part, has stayed publicly quiet on the name changes but has made her family’s closeness clear in recent interviews — casually mentioning visiting one of her sons at his apartment and waiting outside while he “needed a day to clean.” Very normal mom behavior for someone whose family’s every move makes international headlines.
The bottom line
Maddox Chivan Jolie has made his choice — legally and permanently. Whether you see it as a young man asserting his identity, a sign of a fractured father-son bond, or simply the next chapter in Hollywood’s most publicly documented divorce, one thing is clear: the Jolie side of this family is closing a chapter on the Pitt name, one legal document at a time.