Cortez sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Cortez, Cortis, and Cortland are the closest matches by sound. Most share Cortez's Spanish-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"courteous, polite"
"variant of Drew, meaning manly/strong"
"exalted one"
"beautiful, gracious"
"one who saves, rescuer"
"diminutive of Manuel"
"help, helper"
"ruler, leader"
"melody, song (mythological)"
"lord, master"
"new house, bright place"
"God sees"
"purpose, determination"
"garden, vineyard (Mount Carmel)"
"he who wins the struggle"
"God is gracious"
"great adviser"
"work of God"
"defender of men"
"gleaming, shining"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Cortez — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Spanish origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Cortez.
Rhythm: Cortez is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.