There are many perks to being the child of a celebrity, but some A-list kids would rather forge their own paths than be labelled a ‘nepo-baby.’
While some have changed their names to avoid the taunt that they are only famous because of their parents, others have done so to not only distance themselves from their family legacy but also from their complicated relationship with their parents.
Famously, Angelina Jolie refused to go by her father Jon Voight’s surname, and now her daughter Vivienne has petitioned to drop ‘Pitt’ from her name.
Katie Holmes’ daughter, Suri, has publicly used the surname ‘Noelle’ for more than a year amid her reported estrangement from her dad, Tom Cruise.
Discover more children who have dropped their famous surnames below.
1/10
Suri Cruise is now Suri Noelle
Suri Cruise
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ daughter, Suri Cruise, has officially dropped her famous surname and is now legally known as “Suri Noelle,” her mom’s middle name.
According to public records, Suri registered to vote in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, where she attends Carnegie Mellon University, under the name Suri Noelle. Pennsylvania law requires voters to register using their legal name, indicating the change has been formally completed.
2/10
Vivienne Jolie-Pitt is now Vivienne Jolie
Vivienne Jolie-Pitt
Vivienne Jolie-Pitt is the latest of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s six children to legally drop Pitt from her last name, amid the F1 star’s reported estrangement from his family.
The 18-year-old filed a petition with the Los Angeles County Superior Court to legally change her name from “Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt” to “Vivienne Marcheline Jolie.” According to court documents, she listed the reason for the major decision as “personal,” and a court hearing is scheduled for her petition on November 2, 2026.
Vivienna’s twin brother, Knox, appears to have followed in her footsteps as he removed his father’s surname from his high school diploma after graduating from Fusion Academy in Los Angeles in June 2026.
Instead of being listed as “Knox Jolie Pitt” on his official certificate, he was referred to as “Knox Jolie,” although it’s unclear if he has legally changed his last name.
3/10
Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt is now Zahara Marley Jolie
Zahara Jolie-Pitt
Zahara officially filed a petition to drop her famous father’s last name with the Los Angeles County Superior Court back in June. According to California Law, Zahara is legally required to publish her name change petition in a local newspaper of general circulation for four weeks, then submit a petition declaring the same with the court.
On July 9, the college graduate filed a Proof of Publication document with the LA County Court, confirming that her name change petition had been published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal on June 16, June 23, June 30 and July 7.
Zahara is officially filing to go from “Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt” to “Zahara Marley Jolie.”
4/10
Maddox Jolie-Pitt is now Maddox Jolie
Maddox Jolie-Pitt
Maddox, who was adopted by Angelina Jolie in 2002 and later by Brad Pitt in 2006, filed to legally remove “Pitt” from his surname in June 2026. He will now go by “Maddox Chivan Jolie,” and listed the reason for his name change as “personal.”
The eldest of the Jolie-Pitt children hinted at the major change back in February, when he was listed as “Maddox Jolie” in the credits of Angelina’s film, Couture. A year prior, he went by “Maddox Jolie-Pitt” in the credits for the actress’s 2024 film Maria.
5/10
Shiloh Jolie-Pitt is now Shiloh Jolie
Shiloh Jolie-Pitt
Shiloh was the first of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s kids to legally remove “Pitt” from her surname after turning 18 in 2024, with her lawyer Peter Levine sharing insight into the major move.
He told People that Shiloh “made an independent and significant decision following painful events,” and clarified that she “did not take out an ‘ad’ announcing any name change.”
“As Shiloh’s attorney, I am required to publish a legal notice because the law in California requires that of anyone who wants to change their name. That legal notice was published in the Los Angeles Times, as is required,” he said.
6/10
Malia Obama uses the stage name Malia Ann
Malia Obama
As the daughter of former president Barack Obama set out on her path as a filmmaker, she dropped her famous surname.
Debuting her short film, The Heart, at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024, Malia went by Malia Ann for the occasion.
Her mom, former First Lady Michelle, said that Malia was “trying to make her way” by changing her name.
“I mean, it is very important for my kids to feel like they’ve earned what they are getting in the world, and they don’t want people to assume that they don’t work hard, that they’re just naturally, just handed things,” she said on the Sibling Revelry podcast in June 2025. “They’re very sensitive to that — they want to be their own people.”
7/10
Elle King’s real name is Tanner Elle Schneider
Elle King
You wouldn’t believe this country singer is the daughter of Rob Schneider, but her real name is actually Tanner Elle Schneider. The “Ex’s & Oh’s” singer instead goes by her mother’s surname, King.
“I wanted to be my own person. I never wanted to borrow money from anybody, and I’ve worked hard for my family and for me,” she told People in February 2023. “I want to have a life built for myself, and I want to know that I did it.”
8/10
Angelina Jolie legally removed ‘Voight’ from her name
Angelina Jolie
The Lara Croft actress has famously had a volatile relationship with her famous father, who was reportedly in and out of her life while growing up. She petitioned the court the legally remove her surname, Voight, in favor of her middle name Jolie, which she used as a stage name. The change was granted on September 12, 2002.
9/10
Willow and Jaden Smith have ditched ‘Smith’ from their stage names
Willow and Jaden Smith
While their resemblance to their mom and dad is undeniable, as Willow and Jaden have grown older, they’ve ditched the ‘Smith’ moniker as they’ve further pursued their artistic careers.
Jaden revealed in an interview on The Zane Lowe Show that Willow had started going by her forename alone long before he did.
10/10
Nicolas Cage’s real surname is ‘Coppola’
Nicolas Cage
Believe it or not, Nicolas Cage is actually a member of the famous Coppola family, the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola and Talia Shire.
In a bid to avoid the dreaded ‘nepo baby’ label, Nicolas changed his surname from ‘Coppola’ to ‘Cage,’ reportedly inspired by the comic book hero, Luke Cage.