Jelena sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Elena, Yelena, and Helena are the closest matches by sound. Most share Jelena's Slavic cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"light, shining, bright"
"diminutive of Zora meaning dawn or aurora"
"golden, made of gold"
"daughter of Jana, of gracious spirit"
"bright, torch (via Helena/Jelena)"
"follower of Christ, anointed one"
"one of a pair, born together"
"elf, supernatural being of light"
"thunder battle"
"beloved, wished-for child"
"light, torch"
"shadow, harm, damage"
"rival, emulator (via Camilla/Aemilia)"
"my joy, my song (Hebrew Roni)"
"peace"
"victorious one"
"the beloved, darling"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Jelena — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek via Slavic origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Jelena.
Rhythm: Jelena is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.