Why Shiloh Nouvel Jolie, Brad Pitt's Daughter, Is Officially Dropping Her Dad's Last Name

In May of this year, Shiloh, the fourth child of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, reached a significant milestone by turning 18. On this occasion, she took a legal step to formalize a decision she had previously initiated informally: she requested to remove her father’s surname from her name. This request comes amid ongoing legal battles between her parents following the actress’s divorce filing and her subsequent request for sole physical custody of their six children back in 2016. Recently, Shiloh’s attorney shared insights into the motivations behind her decision to distance herself further from her father.

Shiloh made the formal request to change her legal name to Shiloh Jolie on her birthday, May 27. The details of her name change became public when a notice appeared in a Los Angeles newspaper. In a statement to Page Six, attorney Peter Levine clarified that Shiloh did not issue this announcement to provoke her father, countering claims from other media outlets. "As Shiloh’s attorney, I am legally required to publish a legal notice because California law mandates it for any name change," he explained, emphasizing that the advertisement was published in the Los Angeles Times as required by law.

Following the news, a source close to Pitt revealed his reaction, stating that he is "aware and very upset" by Shiloh’s decision to abandon his surname. The source shared, "He never felt as much joy as when she was born. He always wanted a daughter." It is a painful reminder for Pitt, who has expressed sadness over the disconnection with his children. While he is happy with his girlfriend, Inés de Ramón, this distance from his children deeply affects him.

The emotional turmoil within the family is evident, with another source noting that Pitt still loves all his children dearly. The challenges they face have been incredibly difficult for everyone involved.

While Shiloh is the first among her siblings to officially change her name, it has come to light that her older sister Zahara and younger sister Vivienne have also distanced themselves from the Pitt surname. Zahara appeared at a recent event as "Zahara Marley Jolie," while Vivienne, who participated in the production of the Broadway musical The Outsiders, was introduced as "Vivienne Jolie." Additionally, Maddox, their oldest sibling, has reportedly stopped using "Pitt" in non-legal documents since 2021.

Angelina Jolie filed for divorce in 2016, seeking full custody of their children. Over the years, the nature of the children’s relationship with Pitt has been questioned, particularly after a 2020 social media post from Pax expressed hostility toward him. Allegations have also surfaced that Jolie encouraged the children to limit their contact with their father, a claim her attorney disputes by affirming her commitment to their well-being and positive family relationships.

This continuing saga highlights not only the complexities of family dynamics under public scrutiny but also the profound impact of personal decisions on the relationships within the family.