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"
"azalea flower (dry, sun-loving)"
"industrious, hardworking"
"fair warrior, white-haired hero"
"night beauty"
"descendant of Braolach (broad clearing)"
"creative K-variant of Nova"
"pure (via Katherine root)"
"night beauty"
"crowned with laurel, victorious"
"wood merchant"
"variant of Kaylee, slender or slim"
"modern African-American creation"
"ship island"
"strong, vigorous"
"gift of God"
"divine calling, life mission"
"crown, style (from Arabic root)"
"clearing in the bent grass meadow"
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.