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"
"fifth"
"short form of Wesley or Weston"
"son of John (via Jack)"
"industrious, strong"
"beam of light"
"Viking homeland (Scandinavia)"
"beloved of God"
"great one"
"continuous improvement"
"gentle, tamed"
"great"
"one who brings news"
"from the crooked stream"
"fair-haired one"
"prince, chieftain"
"king"
"long hill, ridge"
"son of Jeffrey, son of God's peace"
"shining glory"
"slender, bright-headed"
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.