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"
"from the alder grove"
"dark river, dark stream"
"loving, affectionate (if from Philemon)"
"glory of the homeland"
"The great; the large"
"eagle"
"elder counsel"
"Ford by the windy place; a river crossing in a breezy location"
"little raven"
"daylight, the day"
"from the flowering place"
"house of God (possible Bethel derivation)"
"skilled metalworker"
"the strait, narrow waterway"
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.