In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, it's been a long time since Return of the Jedi, and a lot has changed. And one of the changes we haven't heard about yet? The Empire's new name. Turns out the Empire and the Rebels are both called something different in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
While taking a tour of the props and costumes from the soon-to-be released Episode VII we noticed that the Empire was not being called the Empire. It was being called The First Order.
Next to the model of the brand new Resistance X-Wing Fighter was a placard that addressed the Empire as The First Order:
"The modern incarnation of a classic design, the incom T-70 X-wing fighter is the signature combat craft of the Resistance forces in their fight against the First Order."
And all the Stormtroopers were all labeled as an arm of the "First Order." Plus they've got a brand new look (as we earlier pointed out in our trailer breakdown).
So looks like the Empire is now the First Order and the "Rebels" have been renamed "the Resistance." Which admittedly isn't as big of a change as the Empire, but still interesting.