an unmarried young woman; first or initial
from Old English mægden 'virgin, girl'
A maiden voyage is made-in-first-time adventure!
Maiden historically denotes unmarried female status, often infantilizing. Terms like 'maiden name' legally encode female identity through marital status in ways male identity is not.
Use 'birth name' or 'original name' instead of 'maiden name.' Avoid 'maiden' as descriptor for women; use name or status-neutral term.
["birth name","original name","former name"]
The legal erasure of women's names through marriage has been challenged by feminists and women who reclaim their birth identities; recognize this as a choice, not automatic.
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