Brad Pitt’s daughters Vivienne, Shiloh and Zahara
Three daughters of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have reportedly chosen to drop Pitt’s last name, further straining the public family dynamics between the actor and his children.
Last November, Zahara Marley Jolie, 19, whom the couple adopted, publicly introduced herself by her mother’s last name after joining the AKA sorority at Spelman College.
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Brad Pitt with his children Zahara and Knox. 2009
(Photo: GettyImages\ Junko Kimura)
In May, 15-year-old Vivienne listed herself as “Vivienne Jolie” in the credits for The Outsiders musical, which she helped produce with her mother.
Pitt had previously described fatherhood as his greatest joy, but following his 2016 split from Jolie amid accusations of verbal and physical abuse, their six children have largely sided with their mother.
In the divorce proceedings, Jolie sought full custody, citing concerns for the children’s physical and mental well-being. Although Pitt was awarded joint custody in 2021, reports suggest his relationship with the children has deteriorated.
Will Smith’s daughter Willow
Willow Smith, the 24-year-old daughter of actors Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, has pursued a solo musical career under her first name, “Willow,” distancing herself from her famous last name.
Willow made her acting debut at six years old in I Am Legend, alongside her father, but now identifies primarily as a musician.
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The Smiths (L-R): Jada, Will, Willow and Jaden
(Photo: GettyImages\ Emma McIntyre)
Her decision follows her older brother, Jaden, 26, who similarly chose to drop “Smith” from his public persona.
According to Jaden, both siblings felt their unique first names alone held enough significance. “I realized—wow, that’s so true,” Jaden said in a 2020 interview on The Zane Lowe Show. “Our first names are strong enough; the last name isn’t necessary.”
Top Cruise’s daughter Suri
Once one of the most high-profile children in Hollywood, Suri Cruise, daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, officially opted to go by “Suri Noel” at her high school graduation in June, according to sources close to the family. Now 18, Suri reportedly decided to adopt her mother’s middle name, “Noel,” rather than her father’s last name.
Suri’s public life began in the mid-2000s with her parents’ high-profile relationship, drawing attention to the actor’s commitment to Scientology and adding to speculation surrounding the couple’s eventual divorce in 2012.
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Katie Holmes, Tom Cruise and little Suri, 2008
(Photo: GettyImages\ Toby Canham)
Though neither Cruise nor Holmes has publicly discussed the reasons for the split, insiders claim Holmes sought distance from Scientology and full custody of Suri. Since then, Cruise has had no known contact with his daughter, reportedly due to the church’s restrictions on relationships with former members.
Barack Obama’s daughter Malia
Malia Ann Obama, daughter of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, recently made waves at the Sundance Film Festival, where a short film she directed, titled The Heart, premiered. Observant fans noticed she was credited simply as “Malia Ann,” omitting her famous last name.
The 26-year-old Harvard graduate has worked in the entertainment industry since college, holding roles as a production assistant on television shows and joining the writing team for Donald Glover’s series HIVE in 2021.
Though Malia hasn’t commented on the choice to drop her last name, many speculate the move was an effort to demonstrate her own merit in Hollywood, following criticism of nepotism in her early career opportunities.
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