Buddy sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Rudy, Bunny, and Teddy are the closest matches by sound. Most share Buddy's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"friend, companion"
"gracious, merciful"
"modern invented name, possibly eight (from Octavian)"
"to carry, to endure"
"son of Tenney"
"one who sets things right"
"fire, flame"
"son of Aodh (fire)"
"trust, reliance"
"of the valley"
"peaceful town"
"son of Gregory"
"descendant of fire, young warrior"
"stag's clearing"
"supplanter (via Jay/James)"
"ash tree clearing"
"royal town or manor"
"ruler of the world"
"child born at a prosperous time"
"son of Jacob"
"fort, castle"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Buddy — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have American English origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Buddy.
Rhythm: Buddy is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.