Kawhi sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Kai, Cai, and Hawaii are the closest matches by sound. Most share Kawhi's Native American cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"like a big body of water"
"beloved friend"
"raised by God, wise"
"bright navigational star in Orion"
"of the estate"
"Saxon's settlement, Saxon town"
"spring of water, water gift"
"variant of risen (past tense of rise)"
"the heavenly one, royal (via Kalani)"
"holy, divine"
"supplanter"
"sea and land"
"rye farmer"
"from Thracia"
"may God protect"
"advice, counsel"
"little poet"
"ash tree farm, settlement by ash trees"
"dream, prophetic sight"
"related to Cash, from Old French casse meaning chest or box"
"independent, unbranded — named after Samuel Maverick whose cattle w..."
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Kawhi — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Kawaiisu (Native American) origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Kawhi.
Rhythm: Kawhi is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.