Why list a maiden name on social media?
Many women choose to keep their maiden names for professional reasons after getting married. Listing a maiden name on social media allows them to be found by colleagues or clients who may only know them by their pre-marriage name. It also helps maintain a consistent personal brand if that person was already well-known by their maiden name. Some other reasons to list a maiden name on social media include:
- To stay connected with old friends or family who know you by your maiden name
- To make it clear which person with a common married name is you (e.g. Jane Smith vs Jane Johnson)
- To honor your family heritage and identity tied to your maiden name
- To prevent confusion if you still use your maiden name professionally
Ultimately, listing your maiden name allows you to be searchable and connectable to the various networks and people who have known you by that name throughout your life.
How to list a maiden name on Facebook
Facebook makes it easy to list both your married and maiden names on your profile. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to your Facebook profile
- Click on your name in the intro box to open the About section
- In the Contact and Basic Info section, click + Add next to Name
- Type in your maiden name
- Click + Add Name again if you want to list any previous married names
- Be sure the visibility is set to Public
Now your maiden name will appear on your profile and in searches alongside your married name. You can also reorder the names by dragging and dropping if you prefer one to be listed first.
How to list a maiden name on LinkedIn
LinkedIn has a designated field for entering and displaying your maiden name. Here’s how to find it:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile
- Click View profile at the top
- Click the pencil Edit icon next to your name
- In the Name field, enter your First [maiden] Last (e.g. Jane [Doe] Johnson)
- Click Save
Your maiden name will now show up in parentheses after your first name on your profile. You can also include any former names in the Name field to display them the same way.
How to list a maiden name on Twitter
Twitter allows you to list both a first and last name. Follow these steps to include your maiden name:
- Go to your Twitter profile
- Click your profile icon in the top right
- Click Settings and privacy
- Go to the Account section and click Your Twitter data
- Click Name and enter your first and maiden last name (e.g. Jane Doe)
- Click Save changes at the bottom
Your maiden name will now display next to your first name on your profile. You can also include it in parentheses in your Name field if you prefer (e.g. Jane (Doe) Johnson).
How to list a maiden name on Instagram
Instagram unfortunately only allows one name field, but you can work around this by including your maiden name in parentheses.
- Go to your Instagram profile
- Tap Edit Profile in the top right
- Enter your first name and add your maiden in parentheses (e.g. Jane (Doe) Johnson)
- Tap Done
While not displayed prominently, this allows your maiden name to be visible and searchable on your profile.
How to list a maiden name on Google
Google doesn’t have specific name fields, but you can list your maiden name a few places:
- In your Google account name settings
- In your Google profile About section
- In any Google services like Gmail or Google Drive where you can edit your displayed name
I’d recommend editing your account name to include it since this will change your name across Google services.
- Go to your Google Account
- Click Personal info under Your personal info
- Edit your name and add your maiden name in parentheses (e.g. Jane (Doe) Johnson)
- Click Save at the bottom
You can also create a Google+ profile and list your maiden name prominently in the intro section.
How to list a maiden name on other social networks
Most other social networks operate similarly to the above platforms when it comes to names. Here are a few popular sites and how to update them:
| Platform | How to Add Maiden Name |
|---|---|
| Edit profile > Name field > Jane (Doe) Johnson | |
| TikTok | Edit profile > First and Last Name field > Jane Doe |
| Snapchat | Tap Bitmoji > Edit Profile > Name field > Jane (Doe) Johnson |
| Settings > Profile > Name field > Jane (Doe) Johnson | |
| Quora | Settings > Edit Profile > Name field > Jane (Doe) Johnson |
The key on any platform is looking for a place to edit your name and profile, and simply squeezing your maiden name in with parentheses or as a second last name.
Should I change my name legally?
If you want to regularly use both your married and maiden names, you may consider legally changing your name to include both. This involves filing a name change petition with your state court and updating government IDs, accounts, etc.
Pros of legally changing your name:
- Your preferred name will be reflected on all legal, financial and government documents and systems
- You don’t have to explain why you use two different names
- Traveling is easier with matching ID documents
- Accounts and services will default to your legal name
Cons of legally changing your name:
- The name change process costs time and money for court fees
- You have to update your name everywhere – driver’s license, passport, bank accounts, work files, etc.
- Name change records are public and searchable
- You may encounter issues traveling if your ID names don’t match records
Whether you change your name legally or not, listing your maiden name on social media is a great way to stay connected with your personal history and different networks that know you by each name. Follow the steps above to get your maiden name added across platforms.
Conclusion
Listing your maiden name on social media alongside your married name is easy to do on most platforms and allows you to maintain your personal brand and connections from before your marriage. Simply edit your name fields to include your maiden name in parentheses or as a second last name and it will be displayed on your profile. Consider legally changing your name to incorporate both if you want the ease and convenience of a single integrated name across all your IDs, accounts and records. With a few quick edits, you can ensure people can find and identify you by your maiden name or married name.