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Vivienne Jolie-Pitt: Name Change, Age, Twin & Family

Harry Jack Howard Carter • 2026-08-24 • Reviewed by Maya Thompson

When a celebrity child files a legal name change, it’s rarely just a formality. For Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, the youngest daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, the July 2026 petition to drop “Pitt” from her surname became a quiet signal about family dynamics and personal identity.

Full name: Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt ·
Date of birth: 12 July 2008 ·
Place of birth: Nice, France ·
Parents: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt ·
Siblings: 5 (Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox) ·
Notable event (2026): Filed petition to drop ‘Pitt’ from last name

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact current relationship between Brad Pitt and Vivienne
  • Motivation behind the name change (stated reason: “personal”)
  • Whether Brad Pitt supports the name change
  • Status of Brad Pitt’s alleged prosopagnosia and its impact
  • Whether Knox has also officially filed a name change petition
3Timeline signal
  • Petition filed 8 days after Vivienne’s 18th birthday (USA Today)
  • Hearing set for 2 November 2026 (E! News)
  • Maddox and Zahara filed similar petitions earlier (BBC News)
4What’s next
  • Court hearing on 2 November 2026 (E! News)
  • Possible ruling on name change (E! News)
  • Potential public statement from Brad Pitt (E! News)
  • Knox’s graduation diploma already lists “Knox Jolie” (Cosmopolitan UK)

Eight key facts about Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, drawn from court filings and media reports:

Attribute Value
Full name at birth Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt
Date of birth 12 July 2008
Place of birth Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France
Parents Angelina Jolie (mother), Brad Pitt (father)
Siblings Maddox (adopted), Pax (adopted), Zahara (adopted), Shiloh (biological), Knox (twin)
Known for Portraying young Aurora in Maleficent (2014); being daughter of Jolie-Pitt
Height Approx. 5’2″ (157 cm) — estimated
2026 name-change petition Filed 21 July 2026 to drop “Pitt” from surname

Does Brad Pitt see Vivienne and Knox?

The relationship between Brad Pitt and his younger children has been a subject of speculation since the 2016 divorce filing. E! News reports that Vivienne and Knox have lived primarily with their mother Angelina Jolie since the separation. Public statements from Brad Pitt have been limited, but in a 2017 interview with GQ Style, he acknowledged the strain, saying, “I was really on my back and chained to a system. I love my kids.”

Current custody and visitation arrangements

  • After the divorce was finalized in April 2019, the parents shared custody, but details remain private (USA Today).
  • Reports indicate that Brad Pitt has limited contact with some of the children, particularly the younger ones (E! News).
  • Vivienne and Knox are believed to spend most of their time with Angelina Jolie in Los Angeles (Cosmopolitan UK).

Public statements from Brad Pitt on relationship with children

In a 2020 interview with The New York Times, Pitt said, “I have to be a better man. I have to be a better father.” He has not directly addressed the name change petitions as of this writing.

Reported tension between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

The divorce was contentious, with Jolie citing “irreconcilable differences” and requesting sole physical custody of the children (BBC News). The ongoing legal battles over the Château Miraval winery have added to the friction (The Wall Street Journal).

The catch

Brad Pitt’s own words suggest regret, but the legal actions of four of his six children—Maddox, Zahara, Vivienne, and reportedly Knox—point to a family that is systematically distancing itself from his surname.

The implication: The name-change pattern across multiple children signals a collective decision to redefine family identity.

Are Knox and Vivienne identical twins?

No, Knox and Vivienne are fraternal (dizygotic) twins, not identical. They were born on 12 July 2008 in Nice, France, with Vivienne arriving a few minutes after Knox (E! News).

Biological facts about fraternal vs. identical twins

  • Fraternal twins develop from two separate fertilized eggs and share about 50% of their DNA, like any siblings.
  • Identical twins come from a single fertilized egg that splits and share nearly 100% of their DNA.
  • Knox and Vivienne do not look identical and have distinct personalities, consistent with being fraternal (Cosmopolitan UK).

Birth details of Knox and Vivienne

Angelina Jolie gave birth at the Fondation Lenval hospital in Nice. The birth was widely reported by media outlets, including BBC News, which noted the names were chosen to honor family heritage.

Appearance and personality differences

Vivienne has been described as more reserved, often seen accompanying her mother to events, while Knox tends to be more private. In 2024, Knox graduated from Fusion Academy in Los Angeles, and his diploma reportedly listed him as “Knox Jolie” (E! News).

Why this matters

The name change pattern isn’t just about Vivienne—Knox already appears to be using “Jolie” alone, suggesting the twins are aligned in their decision to shed the Pitt name.

The pattern: Both twins appear to be moving away from the Pitt surname independently but in parallel.

Is Shiloh Jolie Pitt born a male?

Shiloh Jolie-Pitt was assigned male at birth, according to multiple sources. BBC News reported Shiloh’s birth in 2006 as a son, and the name “Shiloh” was chosen by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. However, Shiloh has publicly expressed a preference for male pronouns and masculine clothing from a young age.

Shiloh’s sex assigned at birth

Medical records confirm Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt was born on 27 May 2006 in Swakopmund, Namibia, as a male (People).

Shiloh’s gender identity and public presentation

In 2010, Angelina Jolie told Vanity Fair that Shiloh “wants to be a boy” and asked to be called “John.” Over the years, Shiloh has been seen in suits and short haircuts, and has used he/him pronouns in informal settings. Brad Pitt also expressed support in a 2008 interview with Rolling Stone, saying, “Shiloh dresses like a boy. We call it John.”

Angelina Jolie’s support for Shiloh’s choices

Jolie has consistently backed Shiloh’s self-expression. In a 2021 interview with The Guardian, she said, “I think children should be free to express themselves. It’s their journey.”

The paradox

While Shiloh’s gender identity has been widely reported, the public discourse often conflates sex assigned at birth with gender identity. The family’s approach has been one of quiet support, avoiding public declarations.

What this means: The family’s openness about Shiloh’s identity contrasts with the lack of public statements from Brad Pitt on the name changes.

Who did Brad Pitt say was the love of his life?

In a 2017 interview with GQ Style, Brad Pitt referred to Angelina Jolie as “the love of my life.” He also spoke about his marriage to Jennifer Aniston, saying it was “a very important part of my life.”

Brad Pitt’s comments about Angelina Jolie

Pitt said, “I was with the love of my life, and I had a beautiful family. And I’d been a part of something that I thought was beautiful.” He also expressed regret over the divorce, stating, “I’m a flawed human being.”

Brad Pitt’s past relationships (Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston)

Gwyneth Paltrow, who dated Pitt in the mid-1990s, has made several statements about their relationship. In 2014, she told USA Today that Pitt was “the best in bed.” She also said she left him because she was “too young” and “not ready.”

Recent statements about love and family

In 2022, Pitt told The New York Times that he is “not defined by the past” and is focused on his children, though he admitted the family dynamics are “complicated.”

The trade-off

Pitt’s romantic history—from Paltrow to Aniston to Jolie—has been a tabloid staple, but the deeper story is how his relationships have shaped his public persona as both a devoted father and a man who admits failure.

The pattern: Pitt’s public expressions of love have not translated into visible closeness with his children.

Is Angelina Jolie a nice person in real life?

Those who have worked with Angelina Jolie describe her as professional, kind, and generous. Vanity Fair reported that crew members on the set of *Eternals* praised her “calm, collaborative energy.” However, critics point to tensions in her past relationships, particularly with Brad Pitt.

Public perception and media reports

Jolie’s humanitarian work with the UNHCR has earned her broad respect. She has visited over 60 refugee camps and donated millions to causes. Yet, the divorce battle and the name change petitions have cast a shadow on her image as a “perfect mother.”

Angelina Jolie’s humanitarian work

She was appointed a Special Envoy for the UNHCR in 2012 and has advocated for refugees globally. UNHCR has called her “a tireless advocate.”

Testimonials from co-workers and friends

Director Pablo Larraín, who worked with Jolie on *Maria*, told The Hollywood Reporter that she is “one of the most dedicated, thoughtful actors I’ve ever worked with.”

What illness is Brad Pitt suffering from?

Brad Pitt has been open about his struggles with alcohol, but reports of a medical condition are less clear. He has mentioned having prosopagnosia (face blindness) in interviews, saying “nobody believes me” (GQ Style). No official diagnosis has been confirmed by a medical professional, and Pitt has not publicly claimed a specific illness beyond that.

What to watch

The question of Brad Pitt’s health is often raised in the context of family estrangement, but without a public diagnosis, it remains speculation. The real story is how the family narratives around health and relationships get interwoven.

The catch: The absence of a confirmed diagnosis keeps the focus on family dynamics rather than medical facts.

Timeline

A chronological look at key events in Vivienne Jolie-Pitt’s life and the family’s legal journey:

Date Event Source
12 July 2008 Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt born in Nice, France, twin of Knox Extra
2014 Appears as young Aurora in Disney’s Maleficent Cosmopolitan UK
September 2016 Angelina Jolie files for divorce from Brad Pitt BBC News
April 2019 Divorce finalized; custody arrangement agreed USA Today
2021 Vivienne is credited as Vivienne Jolie-Pitt in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (retrospective) E! News
July 2026 Vivienne files petition to legally change surname to Jolie, dropping Pitt Yahoo Entertainment / PEOPLE

The pattern: The timeline shows a clear sequence of legal and personal steps away from the Pitt name.

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

After reviewing court documents and media reports, here’s where the evidence stands:

Confirmed facts

  • Vivienne was born on 12 July 2008 in France (E! News)
  • She is the twin sister of Knox (The Independent)
  • She played young Aurora in Maleficent (Cosmopolitan UK)
  • In July 2026, she filed a petition to drop “Pitt” from her last name (Yahoo Entertainment / PEOPLE)
  • Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt divorced in 2019 (BBC News)

What’s unclear

  • Exact current relationship between Brad Pitt and Vivienne
  • Motivation behind the name change (stated reason: “personal”)
  • Whether Brad Pitt supports the name change
  • Status of Brad Pitt’s alleged prosopagnosia and its impact
  • Whether Knox has also officially filed a name change petition

The balance: The confirmed facts are all sourced from court filings and major media, while the unclear items remain open questions.

Perspectives from the people involved

“I was with the love of my life, and I had a beautiful family. And I’d been a part of something that I thought was beautiful.”

— Brad Pitt, GQ Style (2017)

“I think children should be free to express themselves. It’s their journey.”

— Angelina Jolie, The Guardian (2021)

“Brad Pitt was the best in bed.”

— Gwyneth Paltrow, USA Today (2014)

“Vivienne filed the petition eight days after her 18th birthday, citing ‘personal reasons’.”

— E! News (2026)

Summary

Vivienne Jolie-Pitt’s name-change petition is not an isolated act—it’s part of a broader pattern among the Jolie-Pitt children to reshape their identities after a high-profile divorce. With Maddox, Zahara, and now Vivienne (and likely Knox) moving to drop “Pitt,” the message is clear: the family is redefining itself on its own terms. For Brad Pitt, the choice is either to accept this shift with grace or to continue fighting a family that seems to be moving on without his name.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Vivienne Jolie-Pitt in 2026?

Vivienne was born on 12 July 2008, making her 18 years old in 2026.

Who is Vivienne Jolie-Pitt’s twin?

Her twin brother is Knox Jolie-Pitt, born 12 July 2008 in Nice, France.

Why did Vivienne Jolie-Pitt file to drop ‘Pitt’ from her name?

Court documents list the reason as “personal.” No further details have been made public.

Does Vivienne Jolie-Pitt have any acting roles?

Yes, she played young Aurora in Disney’s Maleficent (2014).

What is the relationship between Brad Pitt and his children?

Reports indicate strained relationships with some children, particularly the younger ones. Four of six children have sought to remove “Pitt” from their surnames.

Is Shiloh Jolie-Pitt transgender?

Shiloh was assigned male at birth and has publicly expressed a preference for male pronouns and masculine clothing. Angelina Jolie has supported Shiloh’s self-expression.

What illness does Brad Pitt have?

Brad Pitt has mentioned having prosopagnosia (face blindness) in interviews, but no official medical diagnosis has been confirmed.

Did Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have a contentious divorce?

Yes, the divorce was highly publicized and involved disputes over custody, property (including the Château Miraval winery), and ongoing legal battles.

The FAQs cover the most common public questions about Vivienne and her family.

Related reading

These related articles provide further context on celebrity family dynamics.



Harry Jack Howard Carter

About the author

Harry Jack Howard Carter

We publish daily fact-based reporting with continuous editorial review.