Anniston

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.

Pronounced AN-i-stun.

As of October 2026, Anniston ranked #1525 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #898 in 2014.