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. — 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
  • Last year, those bases reverted to their original names, but with different namesakes who share Confederate surnames.
    — Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
  • Like most Spanish people, Yamal, who turned 19 on Monday, has two surnames — one inherited from his father, another from his mother.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of surnames
Noun
  • The Cuban won flyweight gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics and later unified the WBA and IBF featherweight titles, and this is his bare-knuckle debut.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The sidebar returns with four microbudget films, and the rest of the lineup is filled with bold domestic and international titles that just might introduce attendees to their new favorite filmmaker.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of titles
Noun
  • Shortly after Lyons' email, Charles forwarded the message to a group of officials whose names are redacted.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Shortly after Lyon's email, Charles forwarded the message to a group of officials whose names are redacted.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of names
Noun
  • Others have kept family names with local ties, like Wade Ford and Curry Honda.
    — Sean Tucker, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of family names
Noun
  • Now someone has come up with the 50 most interesting nicknames.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The man had nicknames, pet names, codenames, and spoke like Barry White telling a dirty joke.
    — Jeff Rabhan, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of nicknames
Noun
  • Australia withdrew its one-cent and two-cent coins in 1992, while New Zealand removed those denominations in 1990.
    — Brian Delp, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Members essentially became stakeholders of their denominations.
    — Thomas Adam, The Conversation, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of denominations
Noun
  • They are identified by their first names only because of Vietnamese laws protecting vulnerable minors.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Marvel Studios rolled out the first names joining the cast of the next X-Men movie.
    — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of first names

Browse Nearby Words

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 20 Aug. 2026.

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