birth name

American  

[burth neym] / ˈbɜrθ ˌneɪm /

Sometimes birthname

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.

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Etymology

Origin of birth name

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

Example Sentences

Posting on social media, he said: "At my birth, believe it or not was Jamie Bigg. So in 2026, I'll be reclaiming my birth name and making some big changes."

From BBC • Jan. 1, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 13, 2025

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

From Salon • Aug. 9, 2025

For starters, this was the year he became Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o and shed his birth name, James.

From BBC • May 28, 2025

Jule had realized the truth of it early on, even before Immie had told Jule her birth name, and before Brooke Lannon ever turned up at the Vineyard house.

From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart