nee

Nee is a term of French origin used in biographical writing to indicate a woman’s birth name. It is written as née with the feminine acute accent and is placed after the person’s current name, for example: Marie Curie, née Skłodowska. The masculine equivalent is né, used for men. In English-language texts, the accent is typically retained in formal writing, though simplified forms can appear in casual usage.

Etymology and usage: Nee comes from the French past participle of naître, meaning “born.” It signals that the person was born with a different surname and has since changed it through marriage or other circumstances. The convention helps readers understand a historical or genealogical path, especially for notable figures who are widely known under a married name.

Surname and given name: In addition to its biographical meaning, Nee is also used as a surname or given name in various cultures. In this sense, it is a proper noun with independent origins from the French term; capitalization follows standard naming conventions. The pronunciation and origin can vary by language and region, so it may be unrelated to the née notation in biographies.

In culture and practice: The use of née is common in scholarly, historical, and genealogical contexts, providing a concise way to record birth names without altering the established name by which a person is known publicly. It is less frequently used in everyday modern references, where birth names may be omitted or clarified through parentheses or notes.