Kelani sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Kalani, Melanie, and Leilani are the closest matches by sound. Most share Kelani's Hawaiian cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"the sky, the heavens"
"brave, heroic"
"valley of the River Kent"
"invented lyrical name"
"gift of the goddess"
"modern invented name with nature roots"
"rowan tree, protection"
"elevated place, great one"
"noble, eagle"
"cushion, pillow"
"taught by God"
"from the marshy ground"
"mounted warrior, horseman"
"welcome, greetings"
"spring goddess (Persephone's maiden name)"
"reborn (from Renée) + beloved (from Esme)"
"stag meadow"
"Tynni's clearing, woodland meadow"
"son of Maud, mighty in battle"
"graceful, beautiful"
"place of linden trees"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Kelani — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hawaiian origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Kelani.
Rhythm: Kelani is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.