Zahara Jolie-Pitt is taking another significant step in defining her own identity.
According to newly filed court documents, the 21-year-old daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt has officially petitioned to remove “Pitt” from her legal surname. The filing, submitted to Los Angeles Superior Court and first reported by TMZ on Tuesday (June 9), requests that her name be legally changed to Zahara Marley Jolie.
While Zahara has not publicly commented on her decision or provided a reason for the name change, the move follows years of reports suggesting she has been estranged from her father. It also aligns with a pattern that has emerged among several of the former couple’s children, many of whom have increasingly chosen to identify themselves publicly using only the Jolie surname.
For followers of the family, the legal filing may not come as a complete surprise.
In fact, Zahara has been using the name Jolie in public settings for quite some time. In 2023, when she was introduced as a new member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at Spelman College, she proudly introduced herself as “Zahara Marley Jolie,” notably leaving out Pitt from her surname.
More recently, Zahara reportedly continued using only Jolie during college-related events, including her graduation. Angelina Jolie was present to celebrate the milestone, while reports indicated that Brad Pitt did not attend.
Zahara is one of six children shared by Jolie and Pitt. The former couple are also parents to Maddox, 24, Pax, 22, Shiloh, 20, and 17-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.
The family has remained under intense public scrutiny for years following Jolie and Pitt’s highly publicized split in 2016. While both stars have largely kept details of their family relationships private, public appearances and legal filings over the years have occasionally offered glimpses into where things stand.
Zahara’s filing follows similar decisions made by some of her siblings.
In 2024, Shiloh made headlines when she filed legal documents on her 18th birthday seeking to remove “Pitt” from her surname. The request was ultimately approved, allowing her to move forward with a name that reflected her preference.
Meanwhile, Vivienne has also been publicly identified using only the Jolie surname. Observers first noticed the change when she was credited as “Vivienne Jolie” in materials connected to The Outsiders, the Broadway production she helped support alongside her mother.
Maddox, the eldest of the siblings, has reportedly also used Jolie in place of Jolie-Pitt in certain settings.
While none of the children have publicly detailed their personal reasons for these decisions, the pattern has generated widespread discussion among fans and media observers alike.
Neither Brad Pitt nor Angelina Jolie has publicly addressed Zahara’s latest filing.
For now, the court process will determine whether the request is officially granted. If approved, Zahara Marley Jolie will become her legal name, formalizing a choice she has already been making publicly for several years.
As the children of two of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars continue stepping into adulthood, many appear focused on shaping their own paths—and identities—on their own terms.
