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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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
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
Noun
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Such hospitality was reserved for a narrow category of humanity, resembling as closely as possible those local barons whose surnames crusted the stones of local cemeteries.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
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The top five American surnames — Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown and Jones — remained unchanged from 2010 to 2020, but Asian surnames surged to become the fastest-growing in the decade.—
Mike Schneider,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Morton also led the Broncos to two different division titles and three playoff berths during his six seasons with the franchise.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
12 May 2026
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Her writing appears in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, Bon Appetit, and Food & Wine, among other titles.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 May 2026
Noun
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That data consisted of random phone numbers and matches with names, call times and call durations.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
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The field’s absence of celebrity personalities and marquee names has prevented it from generating the kind of political electricity and energy typically associated with genuinely compelling electoral contests that capture sustained public attention.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
Noun
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However, unlike similar programs, these folks have to stay true to their Southern roots and family names, a difficult feat in today’s modern world.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
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Everyone on both sides of my family has always used family names, which has been really important to me to continue only using family names with my children.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Turner was also known for making off-color remarks, earning him numerous nicknames, including the Mouth From The South and Captain Outrageous.—
Lee Cowan,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
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Using school nicknames, mascots, and logos would also be banned.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
Noun
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One-ounce coins continue to lead demand due to their balance between value and tradability, although smaller denominations are still used by investors looking for flexibility.—
Ascend Agency,
New York Daily News,
4 May 2026
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That expansive vision is meant to reinvigorate a centrist movement whose membership has flattened while Orthodoxy and Reform, denominations to its right and left, have been growing.—
Andrew Silow-Carroll,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
Noun
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For the first time in decades, the federal government published data showing the most common first names of the entire population.—
Joe Murphy,
NBC news,
6 May 2026
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Sandy Proksa is an expressive arts specialist who worked with at least 10 of the dozens of artists represented in the exhibit, including the two who attended the opening, identified in the gallery only by their first names Mark and Velta.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Maiden names.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maiden%20names. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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