Kolene sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Colleen, Coleen, and Jolene are the closest matches by sound. Most share Kolene's Irish-rooted cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"girl, young woman"
"Possibly from derdriu, meaning raging woman or feared one"
"plain, fertile flatland"
"creative coinage combining Mon- (advisor) and -ella (beautiful)"
"hare meadow"
"peace"
"Of the flowers"
"sweet baked treat"
"iris flower"
"Royal Hill, King's Mountain"
"queen, regal grace"
"yew wood"
"Lily of the valley; sweet hollow"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Kolene — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Irish origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Kolene.
Rhythm: Kolene is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.