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
  • Cricket South Africa said players will take the field with the names of breast cancer fighters or survivors replacing their own surnames on the backs of their shirts.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The couple lived between New York City, Denmark, France, and Tuxedo Park, according to listing agent Richard Ellis, and their surnames inspired the property’s name.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of surnames
Noun
  • Here are the best, smartest and most revolutionary titles the genre created.
    — Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 19 Oct. 2026
  • New England has set the division’s standard for much of this century, winning 17 AFC East titles from 2001 through 2025, including an NFL-record 11 straight from 2009 through 2019.
    — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of titles
Noun
  • While Christen and Jude remained among the hottest brands to check out at showroom appointments, other names pinpointed by buyers included Hagelstam, Nomasei, Neous and the newcomers Ananyan and Kiana Ghavidel.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • According to Bilal—who had nine cousins in Nusra, six of whom were already dead—these fighters were so keen to die in battle during Ramadan, the best time to be a martyr, that Nusra had to organize a lottery of names for suicide attacks.
    — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of names
Noun
  • There’s no rule banning an heir from naming their child after a color or city, but using oft-traditional family names lends historical weight to a future ruler from the day they’re born.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Others have kept family names with local ties, like Wade Ford and Curry Honda.
    — Sean Tucker, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of family names
Noun
  • And residents have given their homes whimsical nicknames such as Sea Urchin, Surf Song and A Whistle Away.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Some of the stories behind the nicknames are better than the actual nicknames.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of nicknames
Noun
  • The 14 participating houses of worship span from Miami Shores to West Perrine and include a variety of denominations including Episcopal churches, United Methodist churches, one mosque and a handful of other Christian churches.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Starting in the mid-1990s, on one fall night a year, West End Avenue was shut down to traffic while local synagogues of different denominations brought out Torahs to dance with in the streets.
    — Amy Klein, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of denominations
Noun
  • The locals asked to give only their first names for privacy reasons.
    — Zahra Ullah, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The Corona Centennial High football team has an interesting blend of players spelling their similar first names differently, leaving coach Matt Logan to be the referee as to which parents got the spelling correct.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 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 Oct. 2026.

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