Emily sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Emma, Emilia, and Amelia are the closest matches by sound. Most share Emily's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"from the Aemilius family"
"wisdom, inspiration"
"star that brightens suddenly"
"dweller at the hall"
"bitter"
"hero, heroine (variant of Hayley)"
"noble, nobility, of noble kind"
"An English surname turned first name; popularized as a girl's name ..."
"heart"
"from the boar meadow"
"born in summer"
"worthy of love"
"tower; watchtower"
"birth, natal"
"good angel"
"ancient Hawaiian surfboard style"
"of noble kind"
"lioness of God"
"pure (via Kayla from Michaela)"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Emily — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Latin origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Emily.
Rhythm: Emily is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.