What is what does maiden name mean?

Maiden name refers to a woman's surname before she gets married and takes her husband's surname. It is the legal name that a woman is given at birth or that she used before she got married. Maiden name is also sometimes referred to as the birth name, family name, or surname of a woman. Many women choose to keep their maiden name after marriage for various personal or professional reasons. In some cultures, it is common for women to keep their maiden name as a part of their identity even after marriage.