Alec sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Alex, Alek, and Aleck are the closest matches by sound. Most share Alec's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"defender of men"
"may God give increase"
"drop, teardrop"
"king's meadow, king's clearing"
"claw of a bird of prey"
"heart brave"
"flat land"
"Yahweh has shown favor"
"from the crooked stream"
"modern coined name, son of Bray"
"supplanter, one who follows"
"will helmet, strong protector"
"untamed, wild-natured"
"famous wolf"
"burdened, laden"
"watchful, vigilant (via Casey)"
"the number seven, representing luck and completeness"
"wolf"
"speed of God"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Alec — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Alec.
Rhythm: Alec is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.