Ailey sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Hayley, Haley, and Bailey are the closest matches by sound. Most share Ailey's Scottish cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"hay meadow, grassy clearing"
"modern creative name; bright, graceful one"
"son of Cadan (transferred surname)"
"little rose, rose garden"
"red-haired"
"table, flat-topped plateau"
"princess, beautiful"
"my flock is God"
"God is my sun/lord"
"little rock"
"diminutive of Eileen"
"pure"
"little bear"
"noble, honorable"
"farmer, earthworker"
"famous warrior"
"strong, virtuous, honorable"
"Quinn's meadow, meadow of the chief"
"exalted, high, noble"
"heathery meadow, heathy clearing"
"wolf-lover"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Ailey — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Old English/Scottish origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Ailey.
Rhythm: Ailey is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.