Surnames and Stage Names
You would think that if your parents were major Hollywood stars you’d want to be associated with them. But surprisingly enough, not all celebrity kids want to be recognized primarily by their famous last name.
It may be due to the nepo-baby assumptions—that some are born into opportunities.
Maybe they just want to make their own mark on the world, like Olivia Jade. Or maybe there’s some hidden animosity there, like with the Jolie-Pitt family or the Musk family.
Here are 20 celebrity kids who decided to ditch their famous last names, and what they go by instead.
Suri Cruise
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ daughter chose to go by Suri Noelle—her first name and her mom’s middle name—for her high school graduation in June 2024.
Alessio Botticelli, Getty Images
Malia Obama
Former U.S. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's daughter Malia Obama dropped her last name to go by just her first and middle names—Malia Ann—when credited on her 2023 film project The Heart.
Shiloh Jolie-Pitt
On her 18th birthday, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s daughter legally filed to change her name to just Shiloh Jolie, dropping her dad’s surname.
Zahara Jolie-Pitt
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s other daughter, Zahara Jolie-Pitt also dropped her dad’s last name to go by just Zahara Jolie. She uses Zahara Marley Jolie at school and in her sorority.
Vivienne Jolie-Pitt
Once again, another one of Brad and Angelina’s daughters dropped their father’s last name to be just Vivienne Jolie.
Some sources say the name change by the girls is representative of their allegiances to their mother after a rather challenging divorce.
Kristina Bumphrey, Getty images
Angelina Jolie
While she is not a child, it feels fitting to mention that Angelina Jolie also changed her last name. The actress has had a volatile relationship with her famous father for most of her life.
She petitioned the court to legally remove her surname, Voight, in favor of her middle name Jolie.
Olivia Jade
Designer Mossimo Giannulli and actress Lori Loughlin's daughter Olivia Jade Giannulli is an influence, and she does not use her last name as she doesn’t want to be immediately recognized as famous people’s daughter.
Instead, she just uses her first and middle names, Olivia Jade.
Micheal Neeson
Liam Neeson’s son, Michael Neeson legally changed his name to Michael Richardson for a sentimental reason after his mom, who passed in a skiing accident in 2009.
Elle King
Rob Schneider’s daughter, Tanner Elle Schneider, has decided to go by Elle King for her singing career. She is using her middle name, and her mother’s last name (London King).
She reportedly told ABC News, “I wanted to be myself, I am my own person. It’s not that I wanted to be a famous person, I wanted to be a performer. I worked really hard and I did everything myself.”
Samia Najimy Finnerty
Hocus Pocus star Kathy Najimy and The Hangover's Dan Finnerty share daughter Samia Najimy Finnerty. She dropped both last names to go by just Samia for her stage name as a singer.
Nicolas Cage
While he is not technically a child anymore, Nicolas Cage was actually born Nicolas Kim Coppola to parents August Coppola and Joy Vogelsang.
He changed his name to Nicolas Cage, inspired by superhero Luke Cage, for his entertainment career.
Willow Smith
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s daughter dropped her last name entirely to go by just WILLOW as her music stage name.
Jaden Smith
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s son has also started going by just Jaden, dropping his famous last name. Sources say he revealed in an interview that his sister, Willow, had started doing it long before he did and he decided to follow suit.
Xavier Alexander Musk
Elon Musk’s child, Xavier Alexander Musk changed their name and gender in 2022, shortly after their 18th birthday.
They now go by Vivian Jenna Wilson—taking their mother’s last name. Vivian reportedly said, “I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form.”
Mamie Gummer
Meryl Streep’s daughter, Mamie Gummer first appeared alongside her mom in 1896’s “Heartburn”, and it was decided then that she would be credited with the name Natalie Stern in order to keep her anonymity.
Later in life, she chose to drop the stage name for her given name, Mamie Gummer.
Langley Hemingway
When author Ernest Hemingway's great-granddaughter Langley Hemingway began her career as an artist and a model, she decided to drop her famous last name. Instead, she goes by her first name and middle name—Langley Fox.
She told Town & Country, “When someone meets me I would rather they judge me for who I am than for where I came from.”
Norah Jones
Not many people know that Norah Jones is the daughter of Indian musician Ravi Shankar, one of the most accomplished sitar players of all time.
Apparently, Norah did not have a close relationship with her father, and so she didn’t want to be associated with his name. She was born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar.
Liv Tyler
When Liv Tyler was a child, her name was Liv Rundgren because her mom, Bebe Buell believed musician Todd Rundgren was her biological father.
Around the age of nine, Liv learned the truth and began to form a relationship with her real father, Steven Tyler, eventually changing her last name to his.
Matteo Chinellato, Shutterstock
Helene Boshoven Samuel
Heidi Klum and Seal’s daughter, Helene Boshoven Samuel has kept her adopted dad’s last name as her legal name. But in modeling circles, she’s known as Leni Klum.
Oliver and Kate Hudson
Again, not children, but an interesting tale to tell. Oliver and Kate Hudson have not opted to change their last name. They still go by their biological father’s surname, however he wishes they wouldn’t.
He apparently told Daily Mail, “I had five birth children, but I now consider myself a father of three. I no longer recognize Oliver and Kate as my own. I would ask them to stop using the Hudson name. They are no longer a part of my life. Oliver...is dead to me now. As is Kate. I am mourning their loss even though they are still walking this earth."
