Ellington sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Wellington, Allington, and Arlington are the closest matches by sound. Most share Ellington's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"settlement of Ella's people"
"empty, hollow"
"triumph, conquest"
"things to be read"
"the greatest one, supreme ruler"
"safe, uninjured"
"son of Ty (Tye)"
"grandchild, descendant"
"meadow, pasture (possible alternate)"
"dark, black"
"old friend, wise friend"
"variant of Karen or Karin"
"eighth, born eighth"
"dear friend, beloved companion"
"slender, graceful"
"power of the people"
"from the town of Dax"
"love"
"caiman, crocodilian reptile"
"from the borough farm"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Ellington — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Old English origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Ellington.
Rhythm: Ellington is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.