Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's eldest son Maddox has officially dropped his father's surname, with a Los Angeles judge approving his request to become Maddox Chivan Jolie.
The 25-year-old's petition was granted on Monday, 14 September, according to court documents obtained by Page Six.
"There are no objections, the petition for change of name is granted," the court's minute order states.
© GC Images"The Decree is signed and filed," it continues. "The Petitioner's name is changed from Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt to Maddox Chivan Jolie."
The decision makes official a name Maddox had already begun using professionally, including while working alongside his mother on her film Couture.
Maddox Jolie's name change approved
Maddox attended Monday morning's hearing remotely with his attorney, Peter Kenneth Levine. Judge Virginia Keeny presided over the proceedings at Los Angeles Superior Court's Stanley Mosk Courthouse.
He initially filed his petition in May, giving his reason for the requested change as "personal".
© WireImageIn July, Maddox and his younger sister Zahara published newspaper notices announcing their respective applications to remove "Pitt" from their surnames.
While Monday's ruling confirms Maddox's legal name, he has not publicly elaborated on the personal reasons behind his decision.
Following in his mother's filmmaking footsteps
Maddox has been building experience behind the camera, with several of his projects bringing him onto the same sets as Angelina.
He was credited as "Maddox Jolie" for his assistant-directing work on Couture, which opened in French cinemas in February. He had previously been credited as Maddox Jolie-Pitt on Maria, the 2024 biographical drama in which Angelina portrayed opera singer Maria Callas.
Maddox and his brother Pax both worked on Maria, giving their mother the opportunity to share a demanding creative experience with her children.
© WireImageTheir work together also extended to Without Blood, which Angelina directed. Speaking to People at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, the film's star Salma Hayek Pinault praised the brothers' professionalism and the respect they earned from the crew.
Which of Angelina and Brad's children have changed their names?
Maddox's younger sister Shiloh legally changed her name to Shiloh Nouvel Jolie in August 2024, after submitting her request that May, when she turned 18.
Zahara, 21, has also applied to become Zahara Marley Jolie, with her hearing scheduled for 28 September. She has already used that name publicly, including at her Spelman College graduation in May.
Vivienne submitted her own petition in July, shortly after turning 18, requesting the name Vivienne Marcheline Jolie. Her middle name honours Angelina's late mother, Marcheline Bertrand.
The teenager had previously been credited as "Vivienne Jolie" while working with Angelina on the Broadway production of The Outsiders in 2024.
Her twin brother Knox also used "Knox Jolie" on his high-school diploma, according to Page Six. Publicly using a shortened surname, however, does not itself confirm a legal name change.
Angelina and Brad share six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne. The former couple reached a divorce settlement in December 2024, more than eight years after Angelina filed to end their marriage in September 2016.
© AFP via Getty ImagesAngelina Jolie on the support of her sons
Angelina has previously spoken about how much it meant to have Maddox and Pax beside her while making Maria.
In a 2024 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, reported by ABC News, she described how the boys supported her during emotionally difficult scenes.
"When I would have really heavy times, they would come over and just give me a hug or a cup of tea," she said.
Later that year, Angelina told Extra that her children's appreciation of the effort she put into the role mattered deeply to her. Having them on set also meant allowing them to see moments of vulnerability they might not usually witness at home.
Speaking to the outlet at the Gotham Awards in December 2024, she said: "I was so happy to be with them, and definitely they saw me terrified."
