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Orange is the New Black

emilygc3
By emilygc3
Updated Tue May 16 2023
Here's a list of some of the vibrant and fascinating characters in Netflix's Emmy darling show!
  1. Stella

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "star"

    • Description:

      Stella is a name with star quality and sparkle, that manages to sound both ethereal and earthy. Celestial but not otherworldly, it lands somewhere between the popular Ella and bold Seraphina.
  2. Sophia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "wisdom"

    • Description:

      Sophia, which was the Number 1 girls' name in the US from 2011 to 2013, is among the top girl names in the Western World, with a sensuous sound and high-minded meaning. A real winner, Sophia reached the top of the charts without losing any—okay, much—of its sophisticated beauty.
  3. Piper

    • Origin:

      English occupational name

    • Meaning:

      "pipe or flute player"

    • Description:

      Piper is a bright, musical name that entered the list in 1999, one year after the debut of the TV series Charmed, which featured a Piper, and it's been a consistent riser since. Piper Kerman is the memoirist whose prison experiences provided the basis for the hit Netflix series Orange is the New Black.
  4. Nicole

    • Origin:

      French feminine variation of Nicholas, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "people of victory"

    • Description:

      Nicole was derived from Nicholas, the English variation of the Greek Nikolaos, composed of the compounds nike, meaning "victory," and laos, "people." The variation Nicole arose in the Middle Ages in France to honor St. Nicholas. Names related to Nicole include Colette, Nicolette, Nika, Nicola, and Nicolina.
  5. Gloria

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "glory"

    • Description:

      Gloria is beginning to move beyond its de-glamorized Grandma image, most recently thanks to glamorous young Hollywood parents Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard, who chose it for their second daughter. Gyllenhaal was quoted as saying they had been inspired by Patti Smith's rendition of the Van Morrison song "Gloria" at a concert and thought " 'We'll name our daughter that one day'."
  6. Lorna

    • Origin:

      English literary name

    • Description:

      One of those names like Pamela, Vanessa and Wendy, Lorna was invented for a particular literary character--the protagonist of the 1869 novel Lorna Doone by R. D. Blackmore--and then perpetuated as the name of a shortbread cookie. The author claimed to have based it on the Scottish place-name, Lorn. In baby name limbo for quite some time, it was chosen by Judy Garland for her younger daughter, Lorna Luft. Lorna Simpson is an important contemporary American artist.
  7. Marisol

    • Origin:

      Spanish, contracted form of Maria de la Soledad

    • Meaning:

      "Mary of Solitude"

    • Description:

      Marisol is a favorite Spanish name for girls, and an excellent candidate to cross the culture line, a la Soledad and Paz.
  8. Tiffany

    • Origin:

      English variation of Theophania, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "of divine manifestation"

    • Description:

      One of the first luxury brand names and the quintessential Booming Eighties status-conscious moniker; used by Donald Trump for his daughter, Tiffany has plummeted far from its high in the Top 25.
  9. Carrie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Carol or Caroline, French

    • Meaning:

      "free man"

    • Description:

      Carrie lives on mainly on the screen, as the new/old antiheroine of Stephen King's classic Carrie, as turn-of-the-21st-century diva Carrie Bradshaw of Sex & The City, and as Claire Danes' Emmy-winning character Carrie Mathison of Homeland.
  10. Tova

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "good, pleasing"

    • Description:

      Lively modern Hebrew name with a positive meaning.
  11. Suzanne

    • Origin:

      French variation of Susan

    • Meaning:

      "lily"

    • Description:

      Suzanne became popular along with Susan but has just dropped out of the Top 1,000. Wait a generation (or two) in the US, though in France Suzanne is once again tres chic.
  12. Leanne

    • Origin:

      Combination of Lee and Anne

    • Meaning:

      "meadow grace"

    • Description:

      One of the quintessential midcentury combination names, Leanne was spelled any number of ways: Lianne, LeeAnn, Leigh-Anne, and so on. Like many similar combo names -- Joanne, Maryann -- they're all dated now.
  13. Alex

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Alexandra or Alexis

    • Meaning:

      "defending men"

    • Description:

      One of the most evenly divided unisex names these days; strong and energetic, if overused, for both genders.
  14. Cindy

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Cynthia or Lucinda

    • Description:

      Cindy as a name in its own right made it into the Top 20 in 1957 and remained a Top 200 girls' name until the end of the 20th century. Although it's fallen precipitously since then and left the Top 1000 completely in 2015, Cindy remains a name commonly heard in the US. Today, though, it would more likely be attached to moms or grandmas than to babies.
  15. Mei

    • Origin:

      Chinese; Hawaiian

    • Meaning:

      "beautiful; plum"

    • Description:

      Homophonous with Mae and May, the beautiful (literally) Mei is poised to climb the charts. The hero of the 2022 Disney/Pixar film Turning Red is a Chinese-Canadian teen named Meilin "Mei" Lee, which may boost the name ever further.
  16. Galina

    • Origin:

      Russian and Slavic feminine form of Galen, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "calm, healer"

    • Description:

      Commonly used in Russia, has an Old World Slavic feel. The original Galen can be used for girls as well as boys.
  17. Norma

    • Origin:

      English or Latin

    • Meaning:

      "from the north; or, the pattern"

    • Description:

      Invented for Bellini's opera, Norma had some star quality in the silent-screen and Marilyn Monroe days, but at this point it's a graying grandma in baby name limbo.
  18. Janae

    • Origin:

      American, modern elaboration of Jane or Jan

    • Description:

      Adds a soupcon of French flair to some old classics with the currently trendy ae ending.
  19. Maritza

    • Origin:

      Spanish diminutive of Maria

    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"

    • Description:

      Used especially in Latin America, this would make a funky spin on Maria.
  20. Lolly

    • Description:

      Lolly is a playful, cheerful feminine name that can function as both a nickname and a standalone name. It likely originated as a diminutive for names like Dolores, Charlotte, or Laura, but has gained independent usage. The name evokes sweetness and joy, partly due to its association with lollipops and candy. Lolly has a light-hearted, youthful quality that exudes friendliness and approachability. While not commonly found on popular name lists, it experienced modest usage in the mid-20th century and has seen occasional revival among parents seeking vintage-inspired names with a whimsical quality. The name's brevity and repeating 'l' sound give it a rhythmic, memorable quality that works well across all ages despite its initial childlike associations.