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

Cristina’s family is Polish, hence her maiden name being Oleink. — Jenna Thompson june 16, Kansas City Star, 16 June 2026

Relatives of Christa Gilley, whose maiden name is Bauer, questioned how her husband escaped the country. — Nicole Hensley, Houston Chronicle, 4 May 2026

Brown, whose memorable, golf-adjacent first name originates from his mother’s maiden name, is the latest teenage phenom in a sport teeming with young talent. — Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 2 June 2026

Her maiden name was Louis, an Ellis Island adaptation of the original Louizo. — Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 11 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for maiden name

• aspartame
• counterclaim
• overcame
• underframe
• username
• acclaim
• aflame
• airframe
• ballgame
• became
• declaim
• defame

Kids Definition

maiden name

noun

: a woman's family name before she is married