Names that Peaked in 2014

A name with plenty of celebrity glamor and contemporary flair, Anniston has a variety of origins. On one hand, it's a place name, deriving from a city in Alabama of the same name. Founded in the late 19th century by Samuel Noble and Daniel Tyler, it was named in honor of the latter's daughter-in-law, Annie Tyler. 
 
Alternatively, it might be a an adaptation of the English surname Aniston, meaning "Anis' town", Anis being an old variant of Agnes. There's also the theory that is emerged as an Anglicized form of several Greek surnames beginning with Anastas-, the most famous example being the surname of F.R.I.E.N.D.S actress, Jenifer Aniston, whose grandfather changed the Greek Anastasakis to Aniston shortly after he entered the US. This would lend it the meaning "resurrection" or "resurrected town".
 
Actor couple Chyler Leigh and Nathan West added this one to the lexicon when they adapted the surname of the aforementioned actress as their daughter's first name. Anniston has made two brief appearances in the Top 1000 since 2010, and it likely that at least some of the parents were inspired by the sitcom star.
 
Given to around 160 girls in a recent year, the name could be a to great way to honor an Anne or an Agnes, and a way to avoid the popularity of similar Addison, Anna, and Adelyn.

Anniston

Kalel first entered the US Top 1000 as a one-off appearance in 2009, then reentered in 2013. It's possible that some parents see it as a spelling variant of the classic Arabic name Khalil, meaning friend. Or maybe some—Nicolas Cage, we're looking at you—were inspired by the birth name of Clark Kent, AKA Superman, Kal-El. Cage was long associated with attempts to remake a big screen story about the Man of Steel. He and wife Alice Kim gave the name to their son in 2005.
 According to an episode of Smallville, Kal-El means "star child."

Kalel

Popular in Mexico and familiar in the US, Yamileth is an elaborate and fresh form of Yamila, ultimately derived from the Arabic Jamil. Meaning "beautiful", it shares sounds with other familiar and international choices, including Yara, Camila, and Arleth.