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"
"the strait, narrow waterway"
"Ford by the windy place; a river crossing in a breezy location"
"from the flowering place"
"dark river, dark stream"
"24-hour period"
"nobleman, pledge"
"alder tree dweller"
"house of God (possible Bethel derivation)"
"raven"
"from Flanders, Flemish person"
"skilled metalworker"
"The great; the large"
"elder counsel"
"glory of the homeland"
"field settlement"
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.