What is maiden name? How to use in English

Definition & pronunciation of maiden name

maiden namenoun
tên thời con gái
/ˈmeɪdn neɪm//ˈmeɪdn neɪm/

Where does the word maiden name come from?

The term "maiden name" refers to a woman's last name before marriage. It originated during a time when marriage represented a significant shift in a woman's social and legal status. In the feudal era, when inheritance was passed down through the male line, a woman's sole purpose was to bear sons and ensure the continuation of family lineage. Her father's surname served as a symbol of her family's identity and social position, and it remained unchanged throughout her life. However, when the concept of marriage as a union between two individuals rather than two families emerged in the Middle Ages, women's roles began to change. Marriage became a means for women to acquire resources, protection, and social status. As a result, women began to adopt their husbands' surnames to reflect their new identities. The term "maiden name" emerged as a way to distinguish a woman's pre-marriage identity from her married one. It reflected the idea that marriage marked a significant transition in a woman's life, and her previous identity and social position held little relevance in her married life. The term is still commonly used today to refer to a woman's pre-marriage surname and serves as a nostalgic reminder of her family's heritage.

Example of vocabulary maiden namenamespace

After getting married, Sarah changed her name to her husband's last name, but she still occasionally used her maiden name when signing legal documents.
In order to retain her maiden name professionaly, Jennifer hyphenated it with her husband's last name, creating a unique and recognizable name in her industry.
When filling out tax forms, Helen had to remember to write her maiden name next to her Social Security number, as she wanted to ensure she wouldn't have any issues with her identity being mixed up with someone else who had since adopted that name.
Lisa's parents always encouraged her to keep her maiden name as a middle name, so she could still hold onto a connection to her family heritage and tie it back into her own identity.
The bank required Emma to present her driver's license and marriage certificate to change her name, which showed her maiden name since she was still technically required to use it for legal purposes.