Born as

NEE

Think of the French word used to indicate a woman's original surname before marriage.

The clue "Born as" hints at a term used for a woman’s original surname before marriage. "Née" is a French word meaning "born" and appears in formal contexts like "Jane Doe, née Smith." It’s often seen in obituaries or biographies to indicate a maiden name. The answer plays on the literal meaning of "born as" while referencing this common usage.