Dylan sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Dillon, Declan, and Desmond are the closest matches by sound. Most share Dylan's Welsh cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"son of the sea"
"he gave"
"beloved, darling"
"patrician, of noble birth"
"gift of God"
"sea"
"ascended, exalted"
"flowing body of water"
"divine gift"
"mountain of strength; exalted"
"one who glorifies God"
"one who walks"
"light, bringer of light"
"God judges"
"defender of the people"
"treasurer, keeper of treasure"
"son of the south"
"son of James"
"wood, forest; man of the forest"
"victory of the people"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Dylan — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Welsh mythology origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Dylan.
Rhythm: Dylan is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.