Crossword Genius

Mother East's forename? (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mae

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'forename?' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'mother east's' is the wordplay.
'mother' becomes 'ma' (ma can mean mother).
'east' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'ma'+'e'='MAE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mae that I've seen before include "- - West, movie vamp" , "-- West, C-twenty actress" , "Girl" , "more Scots" , "The first Hollywood blonde femme fatale, . . . West" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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