Brad Pitt’s Children Embrace New Surnames, Reflecting Personal Identity
Brad Pitt s children are dropping – California resident Hannah recently made a significant change to her legal name, symbolizing a shift in her personal identity. For over a decade, she alternated between two surnames—her mother’s maiden name and her husband’s surname—depending on the context. While she was known as Hannah Leonard in social media and casual settings, her official name remained tied to her father’s legacy. This dual naming became a source of confusion for her, particularly when she used different surnames in varying environments.
With the support of her spouse, Hannah finally resolved to legally adopt a combined surname. In April, she updated her name to Leonard-Ripley, effectively removing the last link to her father. This decision mirrors a trend seen among other high-profile families, including those of Hollywood’s Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Earlier this year, two of their adopted children, Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt and Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt, also took steps to drop their father’s surname, marking a notable shift in their legal identities.
Zahara, 21, and Maddox, 24, began the process in April by filing paperwork to remove “Pitt” from their names. They then published their name-change intentions in a local newspaper for four weeks during June and July, as required by California law. Both have previously used the Jolie surname in specific contexts, such as Zahara’s graduation ceremony and Maddox’s film credits. Another of Jolie and Pitt’s six children, Shiloh, changed her name to Jolie in 2024, further illustrating this pattern.
Hannah, who had no emotional connection to her father’s surname, described the decision as a long-awaited personal milestone. “I’ve never felt like my last name reflected the love that encompasses my life,” she said in a
“I wanted to make sure my name captured that. My mother’s love and my husband’s love are central to my identity.”
The move also eased the confusion she faced when using two names in different situations.
Jolie and Pitt’s relationship ended in 2016 after their divorce, following a public incident on a private plane. The couple had met in 2005 on the set of *Mr. and Mrs. Smith* and married in 2014. Jolie cited the “wellbeing” of her family as the reason for the split, while a source close to Pitt noted his regret over the family dynamics, acknowledging his heartbreak but respecting the children’s choices.
Changing Surnames as a Symbol of Emotional Liberation
Dr. Harry Parkin, a lecturer at the University of Chester, explains that surnames often carry deep ties to identity. “When people alter their names, it can signal a desire to disconnect from past associations,” he says. This sentiment resonates with Maggie, a Lincolnshire woman, who similarly chose to drop her father’s surname after her parents separated. She felt a strong emotional bond with her mother’s family and described her father’s name as a source of discomfort, even associating it with teasing during her school years.
“I wanted to be part of my mum’s family,” Maggie said in a
“Changing my name felt like a relief, as if I was finally embracing who I am.”
Dr. Becca Bland, a family counselor specializing in estrangement, adds that such changes often serve as a psychological defense mechanism. “It helps individuals separate from names linked to difficult memories or relationships they no longer identify with,” she explains.
Dr. Lucy Blake, from the University of the West of England, highlights the emotional complexity of surname changes. “People who are estranged from parents may experience grief, loss, and a newfound sense of freedom,” she notes. This aligns with the experiences of Hannah and Maggie, who both sought to align their names with the family they felt most connected to.
