Clinton sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Clint, Linton, and Clinton are the closest matches by sound. Most share Clinton's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"hilltop town"
"island of the bear (from Old Norse place name)"
"little brown one"
"one who busts, tough person"
"pledge, oath"
"foot soldier near the lake"
"bright, cheerful"
"feminine elaboration of Odin (Norse chief god)"
"anointed one"
"elf victory"
"grace, favor (from Hannah via Anne)"
"to fill to excess, satiate"
"island of the queen, named after fictional paradise Califia"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Clinton — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Old English origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Clinton.
Rhythm: Clinton is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.