Anniston sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Addison, Madison, and Aniston are the closest matches by sound. Most share Anniston's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"Annie's town, grace settlement"
"modern coined name"
"gazelle"
"God is gracious"
"eternal beauty, unfading"
"to carry, to endure"
"noble, of the patrician class"
"sun (via Persian Kira)"
"dream, vision"
"all-encompassing, entire"
"rowan tree, protection"
"alive, living"
"vitality, living"
"hay field"
"heroine"
"calla lily flower"
"joy, happiness"
"ascent, going up"
"from the lake, lake dweller"
"dawn, bright star"
"life (Eva root)"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Anniston — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have English place name origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Anniston.
Rhythm: Anniston is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.