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Celebrity : Many famous children have opted to modify their names for various reasons, whether it’s to carve out their own identity separate from their illustrious family name or to navigate strained relationships with their renowned parents.
For instance, Suri Noelle and Malia Obama have made subtle adjustments to their names—though their motivations differ greatly—while others, such as Elle King, have completely reinvented theirs.
Angelina Jolie, Nicolas Cage, Shiloh Jolie
In 2002, Jolie opted to legally change her name from Angelina Voight to Angelina Jolie, using her middle name instead. At the time, she stated, “I prefer not to disclose the reasons for my difficult relationship with my father. I have decided that it is not beneficial for me to be in his company.”
Shiloh Jolie-Pitt to Shiloh Jolie
Following in her mother’s footsteps, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, now 18, has received approval from a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to officially change her name. According to court documents obtained by Page Six, Shiloh’s name has been updated to Shiloh Nouvel Jolie, removing “Pitt” from her surname.
This change reflects a broader trend within her family. Although not legally formalized, Shiloh’s siblings have also dropped “Pitt” from their names. For instance, Vivienne, who was credited as a producer for her mother’s Broadway show, The Outsiders, was listed as Vivienne Jolie on the playbill.
Similarly, Zahara, who joined Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at Spelman College in 2023, chose not to use her father’s last name during her induction. Introducing herself, she said, “My name is Zahara Marley Jolie. I’m from Los Angeles, California, the city of angels.”
Suri Cruise to Suri Noelle
When Katie Holmes’ daughter with Tom Cruise graduated from high school in New York City, her name was listed as “Suri Noelle” in the ceremony program, opting for her mother’s middle name rather than the familiar “Suri Cruise.” This choice extended to her role in the play Head Over Heels, where she performed as Philoclea, and her casting sheet reflected the use of her new name.
Reports over the years suggest a strained relationship between Cruise and his daughter, with the two reportedly not having seen each other since 2012. Page Six has highlighted that Holmes was resolute about shielding Suri from being influenced by Scientology, the religion Cruise is prominently associated with.
Additionally, it is rumored that Holmes has signed nondisclosure agreements preventing her from publicly discussing her previous marriage to the Mission Impossible star.
Tanner Elle Schneider to Elle King
In a February 2023 interview with PEOPLE, King expressed her desire to forge her own path, saying, “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. I want to build a life on my own and know that I achieved it myself.”
Recently, King has been vocal about her strained relationship with her father. On the August 2024 episode of Bunnie XO’s Dumb Blonde podcast, she revealed that her father had sent her to “fat camp” as a child, describing the experience as toxic. She also shared that while he took her to movie sets, she was often admonished if she interfered with his work. King stated, “I don’t want to be associated with him.”
Rob Schneider responded to his daughter’s remarks on The Tucker Carlson Show podcast the same month, saying, “Elle, I love you, and I wish I could have been the father you needed when I was in my 20s. I clearly wasn’t, and I hope you can forgive me for my shortcomings.” He continued, “If you love someone completely, you just—I love her. All I want is for her to be happy and to heal from this. I apologize for and accept responsibility for not being the parent I am now with my new kids. She didn’t get that, and I missed a lot.”
Nicolas Coppola to Nicolas Cage
Celebrity : Nicolas Cage, one of Hollywood’s most renowned actors, hails from an illustrious family. On his father’s side, he is the nephew of acclaimed director Francis Ford Coppola and actress Talia Shire, with a network of successful relatives including directors Roman Coppola and Sofia Coppola, film producer Gian-Carlo Coppola, and actors Robert and Jason Schwartzman.
Despite this impressive lineage, Cage chose to distance himself from the Coppola name as he pursued his career in the entertainment industry. He was determined to establish his own identity and avoid the overshadowing influence of his famous relatives.
In an interview with Wired, Cage explained his decision to change his name: “People kept making jokes like, ‘I love the smell of Nicolas in the morning,’ referencing my uncle’s film Apocalypse Now. I decided I didn’t want that. So, I changed my name to Cage. It’s a nod to Luke Cage from Marvel Comics and John Cage, the avant-garde composer. It says a lot about the direction I’ve taken in my career.
Malia Obama to Malia Ann
Similarly, Willow and Jaden Smith, the children of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, have also opted to simplify their public personas in their artistic pursuits. Jaden discussed this shift on The Zane Lowe Show, revealing that Willow had begun using only her first name professionally. He noted how this decision reflected a personal strength and independence, emphasizing that removing their last names allowed them to craft distinct identities for their various creative endeavors. Jaden himself has adopted this approach, separating his musical persona from his work in other fields by using variations of his name to better align with his diverse projects.
Vivian Jenna Wilson
Elon Musk’s transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, chose to adopt her mother’s maiden name during her transition, moving away from the Musk surname. Her decision gained attention when, following Musk’s controversial remarks about his “son” being “killed by the woke mind virus” in a Daily Wire interview with Dr. Jordan Peterson, Wilson took to Threads—an Instagram feature—to express her frustrations with her father.
In her post, Wilson criticized Musk harshly. “You are not a family man, but rather a serial adulterer who continually lies about your own children,” she stated. “You claim to be a Christian, yet I’ve never seen you set foot in a church. Your so-called advocacy for equality and progress rings hollow; you once labeled Arabic as the ‘language of the enemy’ when I was a child, and you’ve faced numerous lawsuits for discrimination. Your background in Apartheid South Africa speaks volumes.”
Wilson also accused Musk of dishonesty regarding his claims about making humanity a “multi-planetary species.” She dismissed his environmental claims, asserting, “You’re not saving the planet, nor do you genuinely care about climate change. Your talk about multi-planetary civilization seems more like a facade to project an image akin to the CEO from ‘Ready Player One.’”
She concluded by expressing her disillusionment with the public’s perception of Musk, saying, “You’ve single-handedly shown me how easily people can be deceived, as they continue to believe in you despite the inconsistencies and falsehoods that defy understanding.”