Maiden Name Meaning: Gender, Pronunciation & Trends

What Does Maiden Mean?

Maiden comes from the Old English “mægden,” meaning “young girl” or “virgin.” It was typically used to denote any unmarried woman and sometimes referred to a particularly effeminate man. Other forms of Maiden include the German Mӓdchen, a diminutive of Magd, meaning “maid.”

Maiden also means “maidservant,” “lady-in-waiting,’ or “waiting woman.” It can describe a Scottish guillotine-like device and a horse who’s never managed to win a race.

What Is the Origin of the Name Maiden?

Maiden is less known as a first name and more familiar when referring to a woman’s unmarried surname. Her name before marriage was and is still referred to as a “maiden name.” Any young girl considered innocent could also be called a maiden, but might not be named Maiden. Maiden is also a surname that appears in the U.K. from time to time.

In Arabic, Maiden is somewhat similar to Madinah (and Magdalen), meaning the “city of the prophet.” In Hebrew, the similar Magdalene, means “woman of Magdala.”

Besides a rarely used female name, Maiden is known to the modern world for the heavy metal band Iron Maiden and the term “maiden voyage,” which denotes a first journey. Maiden is also used as a place name throughout England and the United Kingdom. Examples include Maiden Moor in England and Maiden Island in Scotland.

How Popular Is the Name Maiden?

Maiden is considered quite rare as a first name, yet it appeared on the U.S. baby name list from 2000 until 2022. Even when It peaked in 2014, it was used for just six out of every million babies. In 2021, it wasn’t recorded as being given to any baby girls in the U.S.

In 2014, Maiden’s highest worldwide ranking was in the top 5,000 names in Malawi. Though it’s quite uncommon, Maiden’s use as a first name increased slightly between 2008 and 2015. It still didn’t crack the top 10,000 U.S. girl’s names.

How Do I Pronounce Maiden?

Maiden is pronounced “MAEY-dehn” in English.

Is Maiden a Boy or Girl Name?

Though Maiden has a unisex feel, it refers to girls.

Variations of Maiden

Here are some unique alternative spellings of Maiden, many of which come from Old English:

• Madane (Unknown)
• Māden (Irish)
• Maȝden (Old English)
• Maidene (Middle English)
• Mæden (Old English)
• Mēden (Greek)
• Meiden (Middle English)
• Mæidene (Old English)

Nicknames for Maiden

There are some adorable nicknames for a girl named Maiden:

• Den
• Dennie
• Densy
• Maddy
• Mae-Mae
• Maesy
• Mai
• Maid
• May
• Mya

Similar Names to Maiden

These names are similar in meaning to Maiden in one way or another:

• Andromeda
• Bertille
• Coralyn
• Corissa
• Dagmar
• Ella
• Eloise
• Ethel
• Gertrude
• Ginny
• Heloise
• Imogen
• Lois
• Marina
• Marnie
• Naarah
• Quora
• Rhian
• Riva
• Virginia

Middle Names for Maiden

Maiden is special enough for any of these traditional feminine middle names:

• Abigail
• Anne
• Autumn
• Bette
• Briar
• Bridget
• Charlotte
• Chloe
• Emma
• Eve
• Frances
• Grace
• Hazel
• Hope
• June
• Larissa
• Lee
• Marie
• Rose
• Wren

Sibling Names for Maiden

Give Maiden an adorable brother or sister using one of these thoughtful names:

• Alder
• Ashton
• Brynn
• Charlie
• Christian
• Dahlia
• Earl
• Harlow
• Henry
• Jeremy
• Maddox
• Mark
• Moira
• Orla
• Phoebe
• Rory
• Rylan
• Saoirse
• Sorrel
• Thora

Famous People Named Maiden

There are no famous people with the first name Maiden, but a few use it as a surname:

• David Maiden: Scottish rugby league player for Hull F.C.
• Gregor Maiden: Scottish cricketer for Lancashire.
• Jennifer Maiden: Australian writer who won the Victorian Prize for Literature.
• Sidney Maiden: American musician known for “Eclipse of the Sun” (1948).
• Willie Maiden: American jazz saxophonist who played with Big Bands.

Maiden in Popular Culture

Maiden has appeared in unique ways throughout popular culture:

• Iron Maiden: English heavy metal band.
• MaiDen: The name of a couple also called AlDub on a Philippine TV show.
• Maiden: Character in the Myths and Legends folklore.
• Maiden: Character name appearing in the video game Fat Knight.
• Maiden: Horror short video game related to Resident Evil Village.
• Maiden: One of the three aspects of the Triple Goddess in Neopaganism.
• Maiden: The abbreviation used by the author Joseph Maiden.
• Maiden: Title of a PlayStation video game.
• Maiden: Title of a documentary by Alex Holmes about a female-led yacht race.
• Maiden Astraea: Character in the role-playing video game Demon’s Souls.
• Maiden in Black: Character in the role-playing video game Demon’s Souls.
• Maiden on Center Swing: Character in the 2006 fantasy film “Dorme.”
• Molly the Maiden: Character from the short film “The Happy Man’s Pants.”
• The Maiden: Character in the 2017 short film “An Atramentous Mind.”

Maiden FAQs

Here is some additional information about Maiden:

Does an Unmarried Person Have a Maiden Name?

A maiden name refers to a woman’s surname at birth. She traditionally gives up her maiden name once married and takes her husband’s last name. Women keep their maiden names more often today, and Spanish tradition dictates that a woman’s maiden name is passed down to her child as one of two last names.

What Is the Maiden Name of a Man?

While men don’t traditionally have a maiden name, their last name at birth is the closest equivalent to one. It isn’t called a maiden name but simply their surname or last name. Rarely do men take their wives’ last names when marrying, but it happens occasionally.