Edwards sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Edward, Edwin, and Edmund are the closest matches by sound. Most share Edwards's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"guardian of prosperity"
"lord of the marches, borderlands nobleman"
"rose"
"dweller near the holly trees"
"chosen, judged"
"Royal meadow; kings clearing"
"Border land by the meadow"
"holly tree, evergreen plant with red berries"
"from France (the land of the Franks)"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Edwards — 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 Edwards.
Rhythm: Edwards is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.