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"
"industrious, hardworking"
"expert, most skilled"
"fire, strength"
"fame, renown"
"variant of Kylie, meaning boomerang"
"bright, radiant, shining"
"tailor, one who cuts cloth"
"shining light, bright one"
"of the eternal city"
"eternal grace"
"night life; beautiful night (from Arabic roots)"
"my father is joy"
"defender of men"
"blessing, abundance"
"earth mother, harvest goddess"
"lily flower, purity"
"Yahweh has shown favor"
"victory; triumph"
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.