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.

Example Sentences

After she divorced, she took back her maiden name.

Recent Examples on the Web

Mosley Thompson is Marshall's fraternal twin, and her middle moniker comes from her mother's maiden name. —Emily Krauser, Peoplemag, 23 Jan. 2023

Two of the victim’s family members spoke in court and referred to her by her maiden name, Rhona Fantone. —Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Dec. 2022

Prior to marrying Aldean in 2015, Brittany auditioned for season 11 of American Idol in 2012 under her maiden name, Brittany Kerr. —Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 3 Nov. 2022

Other celebrities choose something more sentimental, like paying tribute to a late family member or honoring a mother or grandmother's maiden name. —Janaya Wecker, ELLE, 4 Jan. 2023

The action star shortened his mother's maiden name Vincent to get his new first name. —Jodi Guglielmi, Peoplemag, 16 Dec. 2022

Obviously, keep off your mother’s maiden name, maybe your birthday, too, and other possible answers to security questions. —Dallas News, 19 Aug. 2022

Are things such as your mother’s maiden name or your hometown pretty easy to discern from your Facebook profile? —Jessica Roy, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2022

King Wiemann shares his first name with his father, who insisted that the tradition when he was born was to name the firstborn son with the mother’s maiden name. —John Kelly, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

maiden name

noun

: a woman's family name before she is married