Zahara Jolie-Pitt is officially Zahara Marley Jolie. A Los Angeles judge approved her name-change petition on Monday, September 28, with her attorney representing her virtually and no objections filed. The 21-year-old has actually been using the shorter name for years, dating back to her 2023 pledge to Alpha Kappa Alpha at Spelman College and continuing through her graduation this past May.
She’s not the first sibling to make it legal. Maddox’s and Shiloh’s name-change requests were approved in May and 2024 respectively, and Knox and Vivienne have also stopped using Pitt in recent years. That makes five of six children who’ve moved away from their father’s surname since Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie separated in 2019.
The judge’s ruling was quick and procedural, but the family dynamics behind it are what keeps this story trending every time. Sources close to the situation describe a continuing estrangement between Pitt and his adult children, and listeners who’ve followed this family for years know the name changes aren’t happening in a vacuum. Zahara’s graduation program already listed her as Zahara Marley Jolie, so Monday just formalized what everyone in her life already knew.
Would you ever legally change your last name? Tell us why in the comments.
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Local Lawton
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