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 Carol’s maiden name is Sweet, and in the 1940s her grandfather owned The Sweet Shop, a small store in Maine that sold candy, ice cream and more. Philip Freeman, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2024 Her mother, Tina Knowles, gave the singer her maiden name to keep some semblance of her family name alive. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for maiden name 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'maiden name.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 29 May. 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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