In French, the term for birth name or birth surname is nom de jeune fille (literally “name of young girl”). This term specifically refers to the surname a woman uses before marriage. For example, if Marie Dupont marries Jean Martin, her nom de jeune fille is Dupont.
Maintaining a record of one’s birth surname is crucial for genealogical research and legal documentation. Historically, in many cultures, a woman’s identity was largely subsumed by her husband’s upon marriage. Preserving the birth surname provides a link to family history and a sense of individual identity. It is often a required piece of information for official purposes such as passport applications, inheritance claims, and historical records research.
