Ileana sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Iliana, Eliana, and Elena are the closest matches by sound. Most share Ileana's Spanish-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"bright, shining one"
"river mouth, coastal inlet"
"miracle"
"calm, tranquil"
"ruler, leader"
"News, tidings"
"soft rose, tender rose"
"lord have mercy (liturgical phrase)"
"gracious gift"
"help, caring"
"fair of face (alternate Scottish interpretation)"
"water"
"Sabine woman"
"daughter of the sun"
"foreign, true"
"heavenly messenger"
"cypress tree"
"River mouth, fertile land"
"little beautiful one"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Ileana — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek (via Romanian) origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Ileana.
Rhythm: Ileana is a 4-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.