Cinema VinesOn August 31, pop star Miley Cyrus quietly removed her family name from her social media handles, opting to go simply by “Miley.” The change coincided with the announcement of her tenth studio album, Bass Persuades, according to the Los Angeles Times. Cyrus has not publicly explained the reasoning behind the move, but her father, country legend Billy Ray Cyrus, described it as a “natural progression.”
In a separate wave of name changes, the children of Hollywood power couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have begun shedding their father’s surname. Zahara Marley Jolie‑Pitt, the couple’s eldest daughter, filed a petition in the Los Angeles Superior Court in June to drop “Pitt” and adopt the name Zahara Marley Jolie. The court required public notices, which appeared in a local newspaper from June 16 to July 7. Zahara had already been using her mother’s surname publicly, introducing herself as “Zahara Marley Jolie” during her Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority induction at Spelman College in November 2023 and again at her graduation on May 17, 2026.
Maddox Chivan Jolie‑Pitt, the eldest son, followed suit in July 2026. Reports indicated that he filed to legally change his name to Maddox Chivan Jolie, removing “Pitt.” His petition was published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal from July 24 to August 14.
Vivienne Marcheline Jolie‑Pitt, the youngest daughter, also filed to drop “Pitt” in July 2026, shortly after turning 18. The petition was filed on July 20 and reported by People on July 22. Legal notices were published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal from July 24 to August 14. Vivienne has long used “Jolie” professionally, having been credited as Vivienne Jo in earlier projects.
These name changes reflect a broader trend of celebrities re‑branding themselves by shedding family surnames. Whether driven by personal identity, professional strategy, or a desire to distance themselves from legacy baggage, the decisions underscore the power of a name in shaping public perception.
