birth name
Americannoun
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the surname inherited by a person at birth, especially a woman’s maiden name.
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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.
Etymology
Origin of birth name
First recorded in 1865–70 birth name for def. 1; 1975–80 birth name for def. 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He was adopted and his birth name was Stuart Proudlove.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
The San Jose native, birth name Myha’la Herrold, also expressed gratitude to her family and friends for “helping make this day so very magical.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 9, 2026
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
To her embarrassment, she could not remember the baby’s birth name.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
