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Thebirth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to thesurname, thegiven name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births register orbirth certificate may by that fact alone become the person'slegal name.[1] The assumption in theWestern world is often that the name from birth (or perhaps frombaptism orbrit milah) will persist to adulthood in the normal course of affairs—either throughout life or until marriage. Some possible changes concernmiddle names,diminutive forms, changes relating to parental status (due to one's parents'divorce oradoption by different parents), and changes related togender transition. Matters are very different in some cultures in which a birth name is forchildhood only, rather than for life.
The termsnée (feminine) andné (masculine; both pronounced/neɪ/ ⓘ; from French né[e] 'born'),adopted into English from French, have been used to indicate a pre-marital ormaiden name, or an original birth name that was later changed.[2]
The termnée, havingfeminine grammatical gender, can be used to denote a woman'ssurname at birth that has been replaced or changed. In most English-speaking cultures, it is specifically applied to a woman's maiden name after her surname has changed due tomarriage.[3] The termné, havingmasculine grammatical gender, can be used to denote a man's surname at birth which has subsequently been replaced or changed.[4] The diacritic marks (theacute accent) are considered significant to its spelling, and ultimately its meaning, but are sometimes omitted.[4] According toOxford University'sDictionary of Modern English Usage, the terms are typically placed after the current surname (e.g. 'Ann Smith,née Jones' or 'Adam Smith,né Jones').[5][4] Because they are terms adopted intoEnglish from French, they do not have to beitalicized, but often are.[5]
Laws have existed since the French Revolution stating that 'no citizen can use a first name or surname other than that written on their birth certificate' – but many official organisations address both partners by the husband's surname.