Hayes sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Haze, Hays, and Chase are the closest matches by sound. Most share Hayes's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"hedge dweller, from the enclosure"
"son of the beloved one"
"east town"
"wood, forest; man of the forest"
"young warrior"
"well-born"
"gift of God"
"strong, virtuous"
"high mountain"
"virile one"
"variant of Jason"
"little red-haired one"
"God will uplift"
"great, magnificent"
"God has remembered"
"bowman, archer"
"brave, lion-hearted"
"happy, fortunate"
"God has given"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Hayes — 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 Hayes.
Rhythm: Hayes is a 1-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.