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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Burnard and O’Shaughnessy point out that, whereas Britain regularly sent nobles to govern the Caribbean colonies—and dukes and earls to Ireland—the men appointed to administer the thirteen colonies more often lacked titles and were paid less.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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The Las Vegas Aces play in the 12,000-seat Michelob Ultra Arena, yet CNBC pegs the value of the team, which won WNBA titles in 2022, 2023 and 2025 , at $500 million, fourth on our list.—
Michael Ozanian,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Noun
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In addition to state amphibian, this year’s bill also declares Connecticut to be the birthplace of the Boys and Girls Club and names Housatonic marble — which is found throughout the state and forms part of the state Capitol — as state rock.—
Theo Peck-Suzuki,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
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One of the resort town’s most special photo ops, however, is a bit more subtle than the grand exterior of The Breakers or the designer names along Worth Avenue.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
3 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 10 May. 2026.
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