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

8 celebrity children who decided to drop their famous last names

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.