Orange Is The New Black actress Samira Wiley discusses choosing the name George for her daughter: ‘In the 1800s it was a girl’s name’
Samira Wiley made an appearance on Thursday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
During her sit-down with the show’s host, the 34-year-old actress opened up about the inspiration behind the name of her daughter, George Elizabeth, and elaborated on the background behind the choice.
The Orange Is The New Black actress shares her baby with wife Lauren Morelli to whom she has been married since 2017.
Opening up: Samira Wiley spoke about the decision to name her daughter George during her appearance on Thursday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Wiley began the conversation by telling the program’s 53-year-old host that she and her spouse had welcomed their daughter a mere ‘four and a half weeks ago.’
The performer went on to speak about how she had made an ambiguous Instagram post that, although it was meant as a reference to her role in The Handmaid’s Tale, many of her fans took as an understated announcement of the arrival of her child.
Kimmel then asked the actress about the decision to name her baby George, and she expressed that ‘we’ve got to teach the new generation about’ redefining naming practices for children.
After acknowledging that her occupation makes her subject to public opinion, Wiley then bluntly stated, ‘I just really like the name, I think it’s really cute.’
Recent arrival: The Orange Is The New Black actress told the show’s host that she and her wife, Lauren Morelli, had welcomed their daughter ‘four and a half weeks ago’
Reasoning: Although Wiley noted that many of her fans reacted to her naming choice with confusion, she told Kimmel, ‘I just really like the name, I think it’s really cute’
She also remarked that she had looked into the history behind her daughter’s moniker and learned that it was used for girls over a century ago.
‘I tried to do some research, I found out in the 1800s, it was a girl’s name but people don’t believe me when I say that,’ she recalled.
The Primetime Emmy-winning actress then expressed that the female best friend of popular children’s book character Nancy Drew was named George, although both she and Kimmel admitted to having never read any stories with the detective.
Wiley shares her daughter with her wife, Lauren Morelli, whom she met while the two were working on Orange Is The New Black.
Doing the homework: The performer then noted that she had researched the name and found that may girls had been named George in the 1800s
Happy parents: Wiley and Morelli first met in 2012 when they were both working on Orange Is The New Black; they are pictured in January of 2020
Although the actress’ 38-year-old spouse instantly felt a connection with her future wife, she was married to her husband, Stephen Basilone, at the time.
Morelli eventually filed for divorce from her former partner in 2014 and began dating the performer, who popped the question two years into their relationship.
The couple went on to tie the knot in 2017 during a dreamlike ceremony in Palm Springs, California.
In 2019, Wiley hinted that the two were planning to start a family in the near future, although they never confirmed anything.
Earlier this month, the actress surprised many of her fans by announcing the arrival of George Elizabeth through a post made to her Instagram account.
Early expectations: After the two tied the knot in 2017, Wiley gave an interview during which she hinted that she wanted to start a family with Morelli; they are seen in 2019