8 celebrity children who decided to ditch their famous last names: From Suri Cruise to Vivienne Jolie-Pitt

8 celebrity children who decided to ditch their famous last names: From Suri Cruise to Vivienne Jolie-Pitt
Katie Holmes with Suri Cruise and Angelina Jolie with Vivienne Jolie-Pitt (Gotham/GC Images, Getty Images)

8 celebrity children who decided to drop their famous last names

(Getty Images)
Barack Obama and Malia Obama and Jon Voight and Angelina Jolie (Getty Images)

Children of stars are expected to achieve success, but when they do, many people attribute it to nepotism rather than their own merits. On the other hand, some desire distance not only from their family legacy but also from their parents themselves. Here are some children of celebrities who decided to forgo their well-known last names.

1. Malia Obama

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 25:  Malia Obama, daughter of U.S. President Barack Obama, participates in
Malia Obama embraced the moniker, Malia Ann, for her creative endeavors (Getty Images)

As she embarks on her journey as a filmmaker, Malia Obama has opted to drop her high-profile surname. At the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, the former president's oldest daughter introduced her short film, 'The Heart', under the name, "Malia Ann," choosing a more subtle identity for her creative endeavors.

2. Vivienne Jolie-Pitt

Vivienne Jolie-Pitt attends the opening night of
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's daughter, Vivienne, dropped 'Pitt' from her last name (James Devaney/GC Images)

Following in the footsteps of her older sister Zahara, Vivienne, the 15-year-old daughter of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, has chosen to go by Vivienne Jolie. According to a Playbill leaflet, she has dropped her father's surname, simplifying her public identity.

3. Elle King

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 15: Elle King attends the 2022 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Ar
Elle King is the daughter of Rob Schneider (Getty Images)

Few would guess that country singer Elle King is the daughter of comedian Rob Schneider. Born Tanner Elle Schneider, the 'Ex's & Oh's' artist adopted her mother's last name, King, to forge her own path in the music industry.

4. Willow and Jaden Smith

Jaden Smith and Willow Smith attend The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating
Willow and Jaden have distanced themselves from their family name, 'Smith' (Arturo Holmes/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

As they continue to carve out their artistic niches, Willow and Jaden, children of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, have distanced themselves from their family name. Jaden disclosed in an interview on 'The Zane Lowe Show' that Willow began using just her first name well before he did, a move both siblings have embraced since then.

5. Angelina Jolie

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 09: Angelina Jolie attends the European premiere of
Angelina Jolie ditched the name of her father, Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight (Getty Images)

The celebrated actress Angelina Jolie, originally Angelina Voight, legally changed her name to drop her  Oscar-winning father Jon Voight's last name due to a tumultuous relationship. On September 12, 2002, she was granted permission to use her middle name, Jolie, as her official last name, which she had already been using professionally.

6. Suri Cruise

Suri Cruise and Katie Holmes are seen on September 08, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)
Suri Cruise included her mother Katie Holmes' middle name in her stage moniker (Gotham/GC Images)

As opposed to her birth name, Suri Cruise, daughter of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise, was listed as "Suri Noelle" in the playbill of her school production of 'Head Over Heels'. Adopting her mother's middle name, Suri has chosen a new moniker as she explores her interests in the performing arts.

7. Micheal Richardson

Micheál Neeson and Joely Richardson attends the
Micheal Richardson changed his last name to honor his late mother, Natasha Richardson (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Irish actor Micheal Richardson, originally Micheal Neeson, changed his last name to honor his late mother, Natasha Richardson, with the full support of his father, Liam Neeson. This change reflects his desire to keep his mother's legacy alive.

8. Liv Tyler

Liv Tyler attends the Stella McCartney X Adidas Party at Henson Recording Studio on February 02, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/WireImage)
Liv Tyler decided to adopt the last name of her biological father, Steven Tyler (Gregg DeGuire/WireImage)

Born Liv Rundgren, Liv Tyler discovered her true paternity at around nine years old. Upon learning that Aerosmith's Steven Tyler was her biological father, she began to develop a relationship with him and eventually took on his surname, embracing her true lineage.

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