Kovu sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Cove, Coda, and Kobe are the closest matches by sound. Most share Kovu's African-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"scar"
"modern invented name with melodic quality"
"God saves"
"dweller by the open land"
"from Leamhanaich (elm grove place)"
"to heal, healer"
"seal pup"
"of the spring, from greatness"
"great woodland clearing"
"born on Thursday (Kwan element)"
"town of the waters (French place name)"
"little warrior"
"storehouse of precious things"
"of the sea"
"dream, prophetic sight"
"downy-bearded, youthful"
"man of the army"
"pure, clean, blessed"
"variant of Zavion, modern invented name"
"gentle, kind-hearted"
"abundance, growth, increase"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Kovu — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Swahili origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Kovu.
Rhythm: Kovu is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.