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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Lucy Stone, a 19th-century suffragist who famously retained her maiden name, demonstrated that challenging the status quo can lead to meaningful change. Shelley Zalis, TIME, 26 Oct. 2024 Hackers could even modify login forms to request further valuable security information: a mother’s maiden name, a Social Security number. Garrett M. Graff, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2017 An upscale upbringing Much like her future husband, Ethel—maiden name Ethel Skakel—was part of a large and prominent Irish-Catholic family. Kathy Ehrich Dowd, TIME, 10 Oct. 2024 Because my maiden name, Robertson, came with its own challenges. April Wallace, arkansasonline.com, 3 Oct. 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 Nov. 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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