Alena sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Elena, Alina, and Selena are the closest matches by sound. Most share Alena's Russian-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"bright, shining light"
"famous warrior"
"shining torch"
"gracious, kind, beloved"
"entire, all-encompassing"
"angel, heavenly messenger"
"rocky land"
"sea, ocean"
"of the sea"
"defender of mankind"
"my God is abundance"
"palm tree"
"gracious, kind"
"sweet-faced, graceful aspect of Durga"
"little"
"from the city of Larisa"
"pearl"
"pure, innocent"
"the other, foreign (one)"
"wise protector"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Alena — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek via Slavic origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Alena.
Rhythm: Alena is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.