Ellene sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Elaine, Eileen, and Ellen are the closest matches by sound. Most share Ellene's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"shining light, bright torch"
"God is salvation"
"strong, healthy, vigorous"
"bright, shining one (via Eleanor/Lenora)"
"Wonder, miracle, something marvelous"
"ruler of the world"
"wagon maker, wagoneer, carter"
"all wise, completely wise"
"silky, like floss"
"possibly from Clara, meaning bright and clear"
"of the Vandals"
"queen, princess"
"mountain"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Ellene — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek helene origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Ellene.
Rhythm: Ellene is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.