Iya sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Mia, Lia, and Kia are the closest matches by sound. Most share Iya's Japanese cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"mother, life-giver"
"to feel great joy, to be glad"
"God has blessed me with beauty/goodness"
"deep water"
"father's daughter"
"heavenly joy, belonging to the sky"
"inventive/blended origin with Japanese sounds"
"flower, added (fragrance)"
"first daughter of the community"
"person of art, artist (professional title)"
"of or relating to Katori, a sacred place in Japan"
"royal female leader"
"element in Yoruba compound names meaning blessed/noble"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Iya — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Yoruba origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Iya.
Rhythm: Iya is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.