The Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie family name change has taken another significant turn after their youngest daughter, Vivienne, officially dropped her father’s surname. The 18-year-old has received court approval to change her legal name from Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie, joining three of her siblings who have also chosen to use their mother’s surname.
The decision was approved by a California judge on November 2, 2026, following a court hearing in Los Angeles. Although Vivienne’s petition described her reasons as personal, the ruling marks another development in the long-running story surrounding one of Hollywood’s most closely watched families.
Vivienne Jolie Officially Drops Brad Pitt’s Last Name
According to court documents obtained by Page Six, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Virginia Keeny approved Vivienne’s request after the hearing.
The judge reportedly stated that, because there were no objections, the petition for a name change was granted. The official decree confirmed that Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt would now legally be known as Vivienne Marcheline Jolie.
Vivienne originally filed the petition in July 2026. In the paperwork, she listed her reason for requesting the change simply as personal.
No further explanation was included in the publicly reported court documents. As a result, the 18-year-old has not publicly detailed what influenced her decision.
Her choice has nevertheless attracted considerable attention because it follows similar decisions by three of her siblings.
Vivienne Is the Fourth Child to Use Angelina Jolie’s Surname
Vivienne is now the fourth of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s six children to use only their mother’s surname.
The former couple share six children:
- Maddox, 25
- Pax, 22
- Zahara, 21
- Shiloh, 20
- Vivienne, 18
- Knox, 18
Their eldest children, Maddox, Zahara and Shiloh, have previously been associated with using the Jolie surname rather than the combined Jolie-Pitt name.
Vivienne’s court-approved decision brings the number to four.
However, it is important to distinguish between using a particular surname publicly and completing a formal legal name change. The circumstances and legal status of each child’s decision may differ.
Knox, Vivienne’s twin brother, is the only one of the six children not identified in the reported developments as having followed the same naming choice.
Angelina Jolie Has Previously Spoken About Supporting Her Children’s Individuality
Although Vivienne has kept her reasons private, Angelina Jolie has previously spoken about the importance of allowing her children to develop their own identities.
In a 2021 interview with PEOPLE, the actress discussed the different personalities, interests and experiences of her six children.
Jolie explained that she was excited to watch them move through different stages of life and discover their individual interests.
She also emphasized that parents should help children understand who they are rather than impose expectations on them.
Her comments offer some insight into her publicly expressed parenting philosophy. However, they should not be interpreted as an explanation for Vivienne’s decision.
At 18, Vivienne is legally an adult in California and can make decisions about her own name. Ultimately, her petition identifies the reason as personal, and she has not offered a more detailed public explanation.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s Divorce Remains a Major Part of Their Family History
Vivienne’s decision comes against the backdrop of a highly publicized separation that has attracted international attention for nearly a decade.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie married in 2014 after years together as a couple. However, their marriage lasted only two years before Jolie filed for divorce in September 2016.
The separation followed an incident during a private flight involving the family. Jolie made allegations of abusive behavior against Pitt, including allegations concerning an incident involving one of their children.
The FBI and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services investigated the matter. Both investigations were subsequently closed without criminal charges being filed.
Pitt has not been criminally charged in connection with the allegations.
Although the couple reached a divorce settlement in 2024, their legal disputes and disagreements over financial matters have continued to attract headlines.
The prolonged proceedings also meant that their separation remained a subject of public discussion long after the initial divorce filing.
The Château Miraval Dispute Continues Between the Former Couple
Beyond their family circumstances, Pitt and Jolie remain involved in a separate legal dispute concerning Château Miraval, their former shared winery and estate in France.
The property became a major point of contention after Jolie sold her 50% interest in the business in 2021 to Tenute del Mondo, the wine division of the Stoli Group.
Pitt subsequently filed a lawsuit in 2022, arguing that the sale violated an agreement between the former couple requiring mutual consent before either party could transfer their interest.
Jolie has disputed Pitt’s claims and brought counterclaims, alleging that his actions following their separation were intended to harm her financially.
The dispute has involved multiple legal proceedings in California, including arguments over the sale, business arrangements and access to financial information.
Pitt’s legal representatives have sought access to certain financial and tax records dating back to 2017. Jolie’s lawyers have challenged aspects of those requests, raising concerns about privacy.
Court rulings have allowed parts of the litigation to proceed, while the broader dispute involving the winery and its associated parties remains ongoing.
The Château Miraval case is separate from the divorce proceedings and should not be confused with the children’s individual decisions about their surnames.
What Vivienne’s Name Change Means for the Jolie-Pitt Family
Vivienne’s decision represents another notable development in the family’s public story, particularly because three of her siblings have already chosen to use their mother’s surname.
Nevertheless, the reasons behind these individual decisions should not be assumed. Each child has their own circumstances, experiences and relationship with their parents.
For Vivienne, the available court documents provide only one explanation: her reasons are personal.
Her decision also highlights an important distinction between a family’s public image and the private choices made by its individual members. Despite the attention surrounding her parents, Vivienne has not publicly presented her name change as a statement about the ongoing legal disputes.
A Personal Decision That Has Drawn Widespread Attention
With the court approving her petition on November 2, Vivienne Marcheline Jolie has officially joined three of her siblings in using Angelina Jolie’s surname.
The development adds another chapter to the complicated family history of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, whose separation and subsequent legal disputes have remained in the headlines for years.
Still, Vivienne’s reasons remain private, and the court documents do not offer further details.
For now, the most significant takeaway is that the 18-year-old has made a personal decision about her identity, which has now been formally recognized by the California court. Whether her siblings make any further changes remains to be seen, but Vivienne’s decision has once again brought the famous family’s private circumstances into the public spotlight.
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