Ivan sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Evan, Ian, and Ewan are the closest matches by sound. Most share Ivan's Russian-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"God is gracious"
"warrior, strong man"
"Italian form of Henry, home ruler"
"God is with us (messianic)"
"my God is Yahweh"
"rich protector"
"bearer of Christ, Christ-carrier"
"strong, powerful one"
"messenger of God, divine messenger"
"revered, worthy of respect"
"my God is Yahweh"
"defender of men"
"victory of the people"
"of Mars, warlike"
"gift of God"
"God will strengthen"
"divine messenger"
"God hears"
"little one"
"breath, vapor, impermanence"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Ivan — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hebrew (via Slavic) origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Ivan.
Rhythm: Ivan is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.