maiden name

noun

plural maiden names
: the surname prior to marriage of a person who takes their spouse's last name
especially : the surname of a married or divorced woman prior to marriage
After she divorced, she took back her maiden name.

Examples of maiden name in a Sentence

After she divorced, she took back her maiden name.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His four older sisters have a different last name, Hines-Allen, incorporating their mother Kim’s maiden name. Dan Pompei, The Athletic, 6 Aug. 2024 For instance, a woman who has built a successful career under her maiden name might find that AI systems struggle to link her past achievements with her new surname. Shelley Zalis, TIME, 26 Oct. 2024 Surnames, maiden names, and distant relatives’ names often make great baby names like Parker, Murray, and Drake. Sherri Gordon, Clc, Parents, 15 Sep. 2024 This was especially confusing given that my mother's maiden name was Arab, creating a layer of contradiction. David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for maiden name 

Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of maiden name was in 1653

Dictionary Entries Near maiden name

Cite this Entry

“Maiden name.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maiden%20name. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

maiden name

noun
: a woman's family name before she is married

More from Merriam-Webster on maiden name

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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