what is maiden name means
If a woman is born with the name âJane Smithâ and she chooses to marry âJohn Jones,â she might choose to change her last name to Jones, becoming âJane Jones.â In this scenario, âSmithâ would be Jane's maiden name. maiden name is the last name used by a woman before changing her name upon marriage. The practice of adopting the husband's surname after marriage is less common than it once was.