Ellington sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Wellington, Addington, 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"
"small, perfect rose"
"beloved"
"little red one"
"God is gracious"
"narrow channel, slender"
"deep valley dwellers"
"white spear, fair lance"
"God enlightens (via Jay/Jairus roots)"
"noble kind"
"feminine form of Paul; devoted to the apostle"
"Ireland, abundant land"
"lake land"
"radiant one"
"object of wonder, divine sign"
"slender meadow"
"noble, free-born"
"grace, favor"
"from the little field"
"of the wood, tree-born"
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.