Andrei sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Andre, Andrew, and Andres are the closest matches by sound. Most share Andrei's Russian-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"manly, brave"
"connected to Damia, goddess of the harvest"
"beloved, dear (Yiddish Lieb)"
"defender of men"
"garden, orchard (as short for Carmelo)"
"safe, unharmed"
"Lord, have mercy (liturgical)"
"eighth"
"fruitfulness (of the land)"
"chalice, cup"
"defender, protector, warrior"
"strength of God"
"descendant of Julius"
"God is gracious"
"one who loves God"
"male, virile"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Andrei — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Andrei.
Rhythm: Andrei is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.