The HBO show “Girls” is back, and whether you love it, hate it, or couldn’t care less, you’ve got to admit that it has probably the most interesting, eccentric, original roster of character and cast member names ever seen on TV.
First of all there are the four main characters, who each just happens to have a strikingly alliterative name: Hannah Helene Horvath, Jessa Johansson, Marnie Marie Michaels, and Shoshanna Shapiro, played by actresses named Lena, Jemima, Allison and Zosia. And guys named Adam and Ray and Elijah played by Adam and Alex and Andrew.
OK, so most of those are fairly normal — Hannah a classic biblical name, Jessa an offshoot of Jessica, and Marnie a somewhat retro 70s name that fell off the popularity list in 1977, but may see something of a revival thanks to the “Girls” character and to the fact that it was recently picked for her daughter by singer Lily Allen (mother also of Ethel).
But then we also have:
Shoshanna
Shoshanna is the Hebrew parent name of Susannah, meaning both or either lily and/or rose. Well used in the Jewish community, its appearance on this show, with its friendly nicknames like Shosh, might extend its usage.
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Sakina
Sakina Jaffrey, daughter of noted Indian actress and food writer Madhur Jaffrey, appears in one episode as a gynecologist. Her name relates to the Arabic word Sakinah, meaning peace and serenity.
Shiri
Shiri Appleby plays Adam’s ex-girlfriend Natalia. Appleby has an Israeli-born mother, and her name means “song of mine” in Hebrew.
Zuzanna
Polish-born Zuzanna Szadkowski, known for her role in Gossip Girl, has sometimes gone by the simpler name Susan. But we love the Slavic Zuzanna (nn Zuzu) — which takes us back around to Shoshanna!
