Kelso sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Carlisle, Kelsey, and Kelson are the closest matches by sound. Most share Kelso's Scottish cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"chalk ridge, chalk farm"
"manly, masculine (as variant of Drew/Andrew)"
"king's portion"
"the fast one, arrow"
"descendant of Ceallachan"
"Dutch/Scandinavian spelling of Isaac from Yitzchak"
"strong, powerful, prosperous"
"from the Frankish haigro (heron)"
"modern invented name, phonetic creation"
"fortified stronghold"
"brave as a lion"
"supplanter, one who grabs the heel"
"coal settlement; dark farmstead"
"horn blower"
"lord have mercy (liturgical phrase)"
"from Rome, Roman citizen"
"bright, shining, moon-like"
"God is gracious (John) + beloved (David)"
"special, particular (German root)"
"riverside town, settlement on the slope"
"little fire"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Kelso — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Old English origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Kelso.
Rhythm: Kelso is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.