Alex sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Alec, Alexis, and Alek are the closest matches by sound. Most share Alex's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"defender of men"
"priest's town, priestly settlement"
"God is gracious (via Jack, from John)"
"the honored defender"
"venerable, sacred"
"son of the sea, great tide"
"the crowned one"
"gift of God"
"From Old French 'macon' meaning one who works with stone; originall..."
"son of Jack"
"supplanter (via James/Jacob)"
"descendant of Ceallachán"
"protector of humanity"
"Lord, have mercy (liturgical)"
"son"
"little seal"
"light, luminous"
"crown, wreath"
"winding valley"
"strong, powerful"
"son of the south"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Alex — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Alex.
Rhythm: Alex is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.