birth name

Sometimes birth·name

[burth neym]

noun

1. the surname inherited by a person at birth, especially a woman’s maiden name.

2. the first or middle name that is given to a person at birth, but which may be changed later according to preference, upon adoption, after gender transition, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of birth name¹

First recorded in 1865–70 birth name for def. 1; 1975–80 birth name for def. 2

Example Sentences

The Australian designer sold clothes under her birth name and had accused the California Girls singer of trademark infringement when she sold merchandise during her 2014 Australian tour.

Read more on BBC

Namewee, whose birth name is Wee Meng Chee, was released until November 26 pending the results of an autopsy of Iris Hsieh, also known as Hsieh Yu-hsin or "nurse goddess" to fans, Kuala Lumpur police chief Fadil Marsus said in a statement.

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Keaton — then going by her birth name of Diane Hall — needed to be loved by everyone.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Sudan, whose birth name is Brittney Denise Parks, is one of the rare souls who remains real in the spotlight and behind the curtain, disarmingly authentic.

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Cain is half-Japanese on his father’s side, his birth name being Dean Tanaka.

Read more on Salon