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"
"God has remembered"
"ruler of the homeland"
"son of Carsun, dweller near the marsh"
"strong as a lion"
"supplanter (via James/Jacob)"
"king's town"
"bright, splendid"
"of Mars, warlike"
"bald, hairless"
"son, young boy"
"fine, lovely"
"God will uplift, exalt"
"male, masculine"
"pilgrim to Rome; from Rome"
"light"
"battle worthy"
"peace town; settlement of peace"
"one who walks"
"one who resembles God"
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.