previous name; former name
Refers to a name someone or something had before the current one. Often used in formal or legal contexts, such as a person's former surname or a company's old name.
彼の前名は田中だったが、結婚して鈴木になった。
His previous name was Tanaka, but after marriage he became Suzuki.
この会社の前名は山田商事です。
The former name of this company is Yamada Trading.
Compound of 前 (zen, 'previous') and 名 (mei, 'name'). The reading is on'yomi.