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'Orange Is The New Black" Names

JasmineMiller
By JasmineMiller
Updated Sat May 20 2023
All of the best names from Netflix' hit TV show!
  1. 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.
  2. John

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"

    • Description:

      John reigned as the most popular of all boys' Christian names for 400 years, from the time the first Crusaders carried it back to Britain until the 1950s. Then American baby namers finally seemed to tire of this straight-arrow, almost anonymous John Doe of names, replacing it with fancier forms like Jonathan and the imported Sean and Ian.
  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. Sam

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Samuel

    • Meaning:

      "told by God"

    • Description:

      Sam has long been used on its own for boys, as accepted standing by itself as it is as a short form of Samuel. Straightforward and down-to-earth, Sam is the name of the son of the co-stars of The Americans, Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys. Sam is one of the most popular names that start with S in the Western world, ranking higher in several European countries than it does in the US, where it's trended downward since the 19th century, though it's always been in the Top 1000.
  5. Maria

    • Origin:

      Hebrew or Egyptian

    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"

    • Description:

      As a highly popular girls' name in all Spanish-speaking countries, this saintly Latin variation of Mary retains a timeless beauty. Through the centuries, Maria remains one of the most widely-used girl names starting with M.
  6. 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'."
  7. 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.
  8. Joe

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Joseph

    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah increases"

    • Description:

      Joe is still the ultimate good-guy name, not at all diminished by its longevity or popularity or its everyman rep as Regular Joe, Cowboy Joe, G.I. Joe, Joe Exotic, Joe Blow, Joe Millionaire, Average Joe — and now President Joe (Biden).
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. Carrie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Carol, English, or Caroline, French"free man"

    • 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.
  12. 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.
  13. Judy

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Judith, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "He will be praised or woman from Judea"

    • Description:

      Judy was the nickname of choice for almost all the Judiths born in the 1940s and 50s; today's little Judiths are much more likely to be called Judith -- or, possibly, Jude.
  14. 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.
  15. Gina

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Regina, Angelina, Luigina, Georgina, Eugenia, Virginia and similar

    • Description:

      A short form for a whole variety of names, this short form has been used across Europe as a stand-alone since the 1920s. It spiked in popularity in the 1950s, owing to the fame of Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida but faded out of use in the 2000s. A sweet and sparky name akin to Nina and Mina, some parents in English speaking countries may be concerned about teasing potential, though it was still given to around 115 girls in the US in a recent year. Popular in Spain, it is borne by martial artist Gina Carano, and actresses Gina Gershon, Gina Rodriguez, Gina Torres, and Gina McKee.
  16. 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.
  17. Larry

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Lawrence, English from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "from Laurentium or bay laurel"

    • Description:

      Your friendly next-door neighbor...not your baby. Although Larry was once one of the most popular boys' names starting with L, that title now belongs to Liam.
  18. 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.

  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. 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.