What's the word for a man's "maiden name?"?

Question

Nowadays, in some marriages, the husband takes his wife's name. Let's say a man named Joe Crosby goes to Japan and marries a woman named Hisako Tanaka, and his name becomes Joe Tanaka. Do we call "Crosby" his "maiden name," or something else?

I think this also raises the question of, What word do we use to describe a pure/virgin/unmarried male? "Maiden" implies a virgin woman, but what specifically implies a virgin man?

Is it even possible that "maiden" can be applied to the man? I've always thought of it as a "female" word (like "waitress" vs. "waiter"), but perhaps we only think of it that way because traditionally it is only women we think to apply it to. (At one point in time, people may have thought of "nurse" as a purely female word, for example.) Is "maiden" actually a gender-free term?

I know two men who took the name of their wife. In both cases, they had moved to another country: A Korean to America, and an American to Japan.

I also have HEARD of marriages where the husband chose to take his wife's name. Is it really so strange? Where's the rule that says the woman must take her husband's name? It seems pretty arbitrary to me. I personally think it makes more sense to pass down the mother's name, sadly because this is a culture where the child's father can be very uncertain, but it's obvious who the mother is.

I've also heard of women either keeping her maiden name or giving it to her husband in cases where changing her name would screw up her identity in her career path. Imagine if your doctor, lawyer, stock broker, or boss suddenly changed names. It could get unnecessarily complicated, especially if an old client tries to find her years later.

Actually, in modern America, it can be a pain for EITHER spouse to change their name, for these reasons and others.

Answer 1

I would think the man's original last name would be called his family surname. I think regardless of if a man choosed to take his wife's name or not, he still becomes the owner of it.

A virginal boy would be called a "lad" or even a "maiden" - 'A female virgin (though originally it referred to males as well)' according to Wikipedia.

Answer 2

No--maiden is not actually a gender free term. It's gender specific. There is no such thing as a male's maiden name. And Japan is one of the most sexist cultures you'll come across...I doubt any 'geisha girls' are giving their mates their last names. Good concept though. And a pure/virgin/unmarried male is still a bachelor.

Answer 3

You would just go with the term "surname". Virgin is gender-neutral. An unmarried guy is a bachelor. Maiden is female.

Answer 4

A mans maiden name is there original last name, no matter what the circumstance is, same with women. It is called the same thing.

Answer 5

It is appropriate to use the word "maiden" -- everyone understands that term.

A man taking his wife's name is a "maidenlike" action.

I'm sure she insists (and he, of course, submissively complies) that he sit when using the bathroom too.

So, maiden is the right word.

Answer 6

The only words that I would use is surname or last name at birth.

Answer 7

It's called a surname.

Answer 8

A virgin man is a virgin.

Answer 9

I have never heard of a man changing his name in a relationship. Sounds kinda feminist and creepy. Are you saying this happens a lot? Yecch.

Answer 10

white night