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"
"truth, from Hebrew Emmet meaning truth or faithfulness"
"son of Stephen, crown bearer"
"strength of the Lord"
"messenger of God"
"long-lived, perennial stream"
"loyal as a dog"
"sea"
"great tide, wave"
"ascended, exalted"
"hero of God, man of God"
"manly, brave"
"unity; the best; one"
"one who lives by the river"
"happy, fortunate"
"red"
"great warrior, one who cuts down"
"master, conqueror"
"black gemstone"
"son of Carr (marsh dweller)"
"fortunate, good"
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.