Leyton Orient was originally created by members of the Glyn Cricket Club in 1881. The club has had several name changes since, first as Eagle Football Club in 1886 then as Orient Football Club in 1888. History books wrote on the Club by its Historian Neilson N Kaufman suggest that the choice of the name Orient origins about at the behest of a player who was an employee of the Orient Shipping Company. The club's name was switched again to Clapton Orient in 1898 to represent the part of London in which they starred. However, some historians believe the name Orient was simply picked due to its oddity and has no relation to them being an East-End club.

The name Leyton Orient was adopted following the Second World War. The club had switched to Leyton in 1937. A further rename back to the name Orient took place in 1966 after the Borough of Leyton was absorbed into the London Borough of Waltham Forest. That change of name followed a financial crisis (one of few to hit the club, and by no means the first or last) and restructuring of the company behind the club; this is remembered for a "pass the bucket" collection that arised at a meeting of supporters in the East Stand, when complete closure was claimed to be a sure possibility.