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"
"well-born"
"God will uplift, exalt"
"lover of hounds"
"little warrior"
"soldier, merciful"
"my messenger, my angel"
"Yahweh is God"
"honoring God"
"home ruler, estate ruler"
"to flow down, descend"
"keeper of the keys"
"from the Stetson hat-making family"
"divine strength"
"white hawk of battle"
"cheerful, pleasant"
"Roman colony at the lake"
"consecrated to Mars"
"son of Jack"
"coal, swarthy"
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.