Why Brad Pitt's Kids Are Ditching His Last Name—and Why Others Do Too!

Changing your surname is a big decision for many people, and it often reflects their feelings about family and identity. Hannah, a 25-year-old woman from California, had been known by two different surnames for years. On social media and in casual situations, she used her mother's surname, Leonard. Legally, at work and school, she used her father's surname, which she inherited at birth. Her parents divorced when she was a toddler, and she hasn't had much contact with her father since then. Last month, Hannah decided to legally change her surname to Leonard-Ripley, combining her mother's maiden name and her husband's surname. She wanted her name to represent the love she feels from her mother and husband, rather than a connection to her father, whom she rarely sees.

This story is similar to what is happening with some of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's children. Zahara and Maddox, two of their adopted children, have started the legal process to remove Pitt from their surnames. They filed documents in April and published their intention in a local newspaper for four weeks, as required by law. Both have already used the surname Jolie in some situations, like Zahara's graduation and Maddox's film credits. Another sibling, Shiloh, changed her surname to Jolie earlier this year. Zahara and Maddox will have to wait until September for a judge to approve their name changes. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt divorced in 2016, and Jolie said she did it for her family's wellbeing. Brad Pitt regrets how things turned out but respects his children's decisions.

Changing a surname can be complicated and expensive. Hannah said the cost was a big reason she waited so long to make the change. She had to pay hundreds of dollars and follow legal steps, including publishing her new name in a newspaper. Maggie, from England, also changed her surname to match her mother's after her parents split up. She waited until she was 16 so she wouldn't need her father's consent. Experts say changing your surname can help you feel more like yourself and separate from painful memories. It can also be a way to show you belong to a different family. The process involves updating records with government offices, banks, and other organizations. While it can be challenging, many people feel relief and happiness after making the change, as it helps them feel more connected to the people they love.