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
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 
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.
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
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.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share