Alaya sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Aaliyah, Alaia, and Alana are the closest matches by sound. Most share Alaya's Arabic-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"sublime, exalted"
"night"
"ascent, immigration to the Holy Land"
"ascent, going up"
"attendant at religious ceremony"
"full of love"
"beloved, exalted"
"lion of God"
"dark-haired, dark"
"God has helped"
"sea of bitterness, myrrh"
"night, dark beauty"
"champion, cloud"
"beloved; of love"
"caring, solicitude"
"dawn, rising light"
"night, twilight"
"Honest, truthful"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Alaya — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Arabic origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Alaya.
Rhythm: Alaya is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.