Get the app →
BriefTea logoBriefTea

Every story in sixty words

Get the free app no ads · no paywall

Explained in plain English

Why do people change their names?

People change their names for many reasons, from marriage or divorce to simply disliking their given name. For children of famous parents, like Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, it can be about establishing their own identity separate from their family's public image, or reflecting personal relationships. It's a very personal decision that can signify a new chapter.

Stories that explain this

Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, 18, drops her father's surname like her siblings

Related explainers

How do you change your name? Who is Angelina Jolie? What's a newspaper advertisement for? Will the name change quickly? Can the UN force a name change? Why do actors change weight? How will AI change game jobs? How does AI change jobs?

The full catalogue

Browse every card filed under P →