Orinda is an uncommon, distinctive female given name of American origin. It was coined by author Bret Harte for his novel "The Luck of Roaring Camp" published in 1868. The name Orinda is believed to have been inspired by the town of Oakland, California, where Harte lived briefly. He combined 'O' from Oakland with '-rinda', a suffix used in other place names like Cloverdale and San Leandro. Thus, Orinda became associated with California's rich history and cultural heritage.
"Orinda saw a notable spike in births from 1949 to 1950, with six babies born each year during this period. Prior to that, there was only one birth recorded annually."