Maiden name refers to a woman's surname prior to marriage. However, there are other terms or synonyms that can be used to refer to a woman's maiden name. For instance, birth name, family name, original name, last name at birth, and nee name are some of the common synonyms for maiden name. Birth name emphasizes the original name given to someone at birth, while family name or last name at birth focuses on the name inherited from a woman's family. Nee name is a French term that's commonly adopted by people who have French ancestry, and it simply means born. All these words have the same meaning as maiden name and can be used interchangeably.