Ilene sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Eileen, Irene, and Aileen are the closest matches by sound. Most share Ilene's Irish-rooted cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"bright, shining light"
"glowing breeze"
"of noble birth"
"new, new star"
"noble, of noble kind"
"tailor, one who cuts cloth"
"opulence, indulgence, abundance"
"of the eternal city"
"my God is Yahweh"
"lily, beautiful flower"
"from Brittany, France"
"strength and beauty"
"of Jove, sky blessing"
"valley of the River Kent"
"slender, fair"
"benevolent reason or principle"
"spirit of battle"
"breath of life, living"
"son of James"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Ilene — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek Helen/Irene influence origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Ilene.
Rhythm: Ilene is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.