Eli sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Elijah, Ely, and Elia are the closest matches by sound. Most share Eli's Hebrew-rooted cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"ascended, high"
"coal town, dark settlement"
"great wave"
"speech, tree-top (Hebrew)"
"bowman, one who shoots arrows"
"the Lord saves"
"jet black; speed"
"elf warrior"
"elm grove"
"brave as a wild boar"
"lover of hounds"
"crown, wreath"
"youthful, downy-bearded"
"house builder, craftsman"
"glorious fighter"
"son of Emery"
"gracious, merciful"
"fortunate, prosperous"
"blazing iron"
"Jehovah is God; the Lord is my God"
"wealth, fortune, prosperity"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Eli — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hebrew origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Eli.
Rhythm: Eli is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.