Gary sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Barry, Larry, and Jerry are the closest matches by sound. Most share Gary's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"spear ruler"
"God has been gracious"
"one who lives near the fens or marshes"
"ruler of the army (Scandinavian form)"
"resolute, crafty"
"Canaan, land of merchants"
"great forest, eagle valley"
"noble lord"
"will helmet, strong protector"
"poet, bard"
"wise as a wolf"
"dark settlement (place name)"
"without wax, pure"
"divine presence"
"bold and modern (cultural meaning)"
"modern invented name, possibly 'sincere air' or 'great river'"
"long meadow, rocky meadow"
"cart maker, transporter"
"of the raven, raven-like"
"dream, aspiration, vision"
"joy, laughter"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Gary — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Germanic origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Gary.
Rhythm: Gary is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.