Zahara Jolie, the 21-year-old daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court to legally change her name to Zahara Marley Jolie, formally removing "Pitt" from her last name. Court records confirm the filing was made on April 28, 2026, with a scheduled appearance before a judge set for September 28, 2026.

No reasons were cited in the petition, which is consistent with standard name-change filings in California. Zahara's decision follows a public pattern already established by three of her siblings — Maddox, Shiloh, and Vivienne — who have all taken steps, legally or publicly, to distance their names from their father.

Key Facts

  • Zahara filed for a legal name change on April 28, 2026, in LA Superior Court
  • Requested legal name: Zahara Marley Jolie
  • Court date to confirm the change: September 28, 2026
  • No reasons cited in the court filing
  • Zahara graduated from Spelman College with her name announced without "Pitt"
  • Siblings Shiloh, Maddox, and Vivienne have all dropped "Pitt" from their names

A Name Change That Reads Between the Lines

While California name-change filings don't require a stated reason, the timing and context are difficult to separate from the ongoing public aftermath of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's 2016 separation — one of the most litigated and publicized divorces in Hollywood history. The couple's custody battle continued through much of the early 2020s, with Jolie and Pitt making opposing legal moves on multiple fronts.

The first visible public signal of Zahara's name preference came at her Spelman College graduation ceremony, where she walked across the stage and received her diploma announced as Zahara Jolie — not Zahara Jolie-Pitt. The moment drew significant media attention and signaled the direction her formal legal filing would eventually take.

"She's been clear about who she is and where she stands — this is just making it official," a source close to the family told TMZ.

Following a Family Pattern

Zahara is the fourth Jolie-Pitt child to take steps to remove "Pitt" from their public or legal identity. Maddox, the eldest, made a similar move in the days before Zahara's filing became public. Shiloh legally changed her name to Shiloh Jolie and even celebrated the moment publicly by attending one of her mother's events. Vivienne Jolie dropped "Pitt" from her Broadway production credits when she worked as a producer on the Tony Award-winning musical The Outsiders.

Of the six Jolie-Pitt children — Maddox, Zahara, Pax, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne — the movement away from "Pitt" is now a documented trend among those who have come of age.

Brad Pitt Has Not Publicly Responded

Representatives for Brad Pitt did not respond to requests for comment at the time of publication. Pitt has largely avoided making public statements about his children's name decisions, with sources suggesting he has been made aware of the filings through legal channels.

Angelina Jolie, for her part, has not commented publicly on Zahara's filing. The Maleficent star has maintained a consistent posture of privacy around her children's personal choices, even when those choices have generated widespread news coverage.

What Comes Next

Zahara's court appearance on September 28, 2026, is expected to be a routine hearing before a Los Angeles Superior Court judge. Barring any objection — which is rare in uncontested name-change petitions — the name change is expected to be approved and finalized that day. Once granted, Zahara Marley Jolie will be her legal name on all official documentation going forward.

LoudDrip will continue to follow the Jolie-Pitt family story as it develops. For more celebrity news, follow our Celebrity section.