Kahani sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Kahana, Kiani, and Kahuna are the closest matches by sound. Most share Kahani's Indian-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"story, tale, narrative"
"race alive"
"breath of life, living"
"tall, lofty"
"word, speech"
"sky god, thunder deity"
"muddy, boggy (alternate etymological theory)"
"elm grove"
"royal woodland clearing"
"ceremonial attendant"
"God is my refuge, noble"
"life, living"
"pure, clear"
"meadow, clearing"
"ash tree meadow"
"exalted, high, ascending"
"pearl or bitter (Mae component)"
"slender, thin"
"to be well, to have worth"
"Gomeric's mountain or hill"
"modern coined name combining Bray + Lynn (lake)"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Kahani — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Sanskrit origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Kahani.
Rhythm: Kahani is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.