Mädchenname
masculine
The German phrase for "maiden name" is Mädchenname.
The term Mädchenname is a masculine noun used to refer to the original last name of a person who has since married.
Meaning: married person's original last name (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes its ending depending on its role in a sentence. When used as a direct object (the accusative case), it often takes the ending -n, becoming Mädchennamen. To show possession (the genitive case), such as saying "the maiden name of…", the word takes the ending -s to become Mädchennamens.
Did you know?
- When filling out official forms, you might see geborene, meaning 'born'. This is often used as a shorthand substitute for the full phrase Mädchenname.
- The word Mädchen is a diminutive form of Magd, which originally meant 'maidservant' or 'young woman'. Over centuries, the meaning shifted from a social class to a general age group.
- In modern Germany, the tradition of a wife taking her husband's name is declining. Many couples now choose to keep their original names or create a combined name using a hyphen.
Examples in context
- Wie ist Ihr Mädchenname?What is your maiden name?This sentence is useful for asking someone for their Mädchenname.Tatoeba #2053648 by samueldora, translation #1584074 by erikspen
- Kennst du Marias Mädchennamen?Do you know Mary's maiden name?This sentence shows how to use the accusative form Mädchennamen when asking if someone knows a name.Tatoeba #8339184 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #11055923 by sundown
- Wie lautet der Mädchenname Ihrer Frau?What's your wife's maiden name?This sentence shows how to ask for the Mädchenname of someone's wife.Tatoeba #8074944 by Luiaard, translation #2541622 by CK
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Felix are filling out a registration form.
- LauraSoll ich hier meinen Mädchenname eintragen?Should I enter my maiden name here?
- FelixJa, das steht in diesem Feld.Yes, it says so in this field.
- LauraIch habe meinen Mädchenname fast vergessen.I almost forgot my maiden name.
- FelixDas passiert oft nach vielen Jahren.That often happens after many years.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “maiden name” translations and entries Mädchenname, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
