Born, in marriage announcements

NEE

Think of the French word often seen before a woman’s maiden name in formal contexts.

In marriage announcements, you’ll often see a woman’s maiden name followed by "née" to indicate her original last name before marriage. The clue plays on the French word "née" (meaning "born"), which is commonly used in formal contexts like wedding notices. It’s a straightforward definition—no wordplay—just a direct reference to how birth names are presented in these announcements. Think of it as the crossword’s way of asking for that little word you’d spot in a newspaper’s "Mr. and Mrs. Smith, née Jones" line.