Elaine sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Elane, Elain, and Lane are the closest matches by sound. Most share Elaine's Welsh cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"sunray, shining light"
"old, wise ruler"
"the strait, narrow waterway"
"olive tree; symbol of peace and wisdom"
"flower settlement"
"nobleman, pledge"
"black and blue-green"
"from Flanders, Flemish person"
"24-hour period"
"little raven"
"glory of the homeland"
"alder tree dweller"
"skilled metalworker"
"The great; the large"
"house of God (possible Bethel derivation)"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Elaine — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Welsh/Greek origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Elaine.
Rhythm: Elaine is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.