Orphan beads are beads that are either a “1 off” (only 1 made) or beads that were created for a set or piece of jewelry and never used.  

Some times beadmakers make specific beads to experiment with a new glass colour or technique but the bead never made it into a collection or piece of wearable art! 

There’s nothing wrong with them, they just weren’t used for anything at this point.