maiden names

noun

plural of maiden name
as in surnames
a woman's last name before she is married After she divorced, she took back her maiden name.

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of maiden names For some families, maiden names or other significant surnames are carried on as first names. — Lisa Milbrand, Parents, 1 Apr. 2026 In a step that rights activists call an attempt to block a dual-surname system, Takaichi is calling for a law to allow the greater use of maiden names as aliases instead. — Mari Yamaguchi, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026 In a step that rights activists call an attempt to block a dual-surname system, Takaichi is calling for a law to allow the greater use of maiden names as aliases instead. — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026 In a step that rights activists call an attempt to block a dual-surname system, Takaichi is calling for a law to allow the greater use of maiden names as aliases instead. — ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maiden names
  1. surnames
  2. titles
  3. names
  4. family names
  5. nicknames
  6. denominations
  7. first names
Noun
  • Many common surnames, such as Carpenter or Baker, originated from occupations passed down through generations, reflecting how closely people’s identities were tied to their work.
    — Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Decade after decade, Chicagoans with Italian surnames have hidden instead of objected.
    — Gary Grasso, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026
Definition of surnames
Noun
  • The Heat has also made seven NBA Finals appearances and 10 Eastern Conference Finals appearances, won 16 division titles, and advanced to the playoffs 23 times.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
  • Early awards buzz is already building around several of the titles, which has screened for festival programmers.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 14 July 2026
Definition of titles
Noun
  • Meanwhile, Burberry unveiled a hyper-British, globally resonant campaign, A Good Sport, leaning on a cast of national and international names.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 16 July 2026
  • Just on Summer House, Carl has three, and Jesse Solomon (always both names) has one.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 July 2026
Definition of names
Noun
  • Commercial viticulture first developed here in the 1970s, led by family names such as Husch, Navarro and Scharffenberger; Husch planted the valley's first Pinot Noir in 1971.
    — Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
  • The estate has a long, storied history under many family names, but in 1575, the Essenault family rechristened it by contracting their family name to Issan.
    — Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 17 June 2026
Definition of family names
Noun
  • The Women’s Professional Baseball League on Wednesday unveiled the nicknames and logos of its four teams ahead of its inaugural season, with each team name inspired by pioneering women.
    — Alanis Thames, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2026
  • The buck moon has other nicknames related to animals, plants and weather, including the feather moulting moon, salmon moon, raspberry moon and thunder moon.
    — Alexiah Syrai Olsen, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of nicknames
Noun
  • Another condemned the preference shown for evangelical Christian translations of the Bible instead of a diversity of translations that are inclusive of many denominations.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 June 2026
  • Different denominations are governed differently, and have their own bureaucracies to navigate.
    — Mark Dee June 19, Idaho Statesman, 19 June 2026
Definition of denominations
Noun
  • The Bachelor Nation star and his wife landed on the twins' first names after testing them out with River, who didn't hesitate to make the monikers part of her everyday vocabulary even before her little sisters were born.
    — Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • The two, who are going by their first names to protect their privacy, didn’t even know the opportunity was coming their way.
    — Zuri Primos July 3, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
Definition of first names

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maiden name
maiden names
maidens
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Cite this Entry

“Maiden names.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maiden%20names. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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