Katya sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Katia, Kaya, and Katja are the closest matches by sound. Most share Katya's Russian-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"pure, clear"
"small marsh, swampy area"
"pledge, hostage"
"wisdom, skill"
"God is gracious"
"grace, favor"
"of noble birth"
"diminutive of Ivan/John"
"wisdom"
"gift of God (short form of Dorothy/Theodora)"
"brave ruler, powerful"
"little sweet one (diminutive)"
"brave lion"
"noble one, of noble kind"
"fond of horses (philos + hippos)"
"peace"
"bearer of good news"
"strong one"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Katya — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Katya.
Rhythm: Katya is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.