Many children of famous actor Brad Pitt are changing their last names. Zahara, Maddox, and Shiloh do not want to use their father's surname, "Pitt". Instead, they want to use their mother's surname, "Jolie".
This is not just happening to celebrity families. Many regular young people are also dropping their fathers' last names.
For example, 25-year-old Hannah from California changed her last name to Leonard-Ripley. Her parents divorced when she was very young, and she does not have a close relationship with her father. She wanted her name to show her mother's love and her husband's love instead. Changing a name is not easy or cheap. In California, Hannah spent three months and hundreds of dollars to change her name.
Another young woman, Maggie from England, also changed her name. She did not like her father's surname because other children teased her at school. She waited until she was 16 to change it to her mother's last name. Under the age of 16 in the UK, children need their parents' permission to change their names. At 16, Maggie could make the decision by herself.
Experts say that names are a big part of who we are. When people do not feel close to a parent, changing their surname can help them feel happier and start a new life.