Lanie sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Laney, Lane, and Elaine are the closest matches by sound. Most share Lanie's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"bright, shining light"
"region of ancient Israel"
"possibly from Sidonia, woman of Sidon"
"hazel tree"
"slender and fair"
"defender of mankind"
"friend, companion"
"bright, beautiful"
"wave"
"from the Isle of Capri"
"beloved, sea of bitterness (Mary)"
"little Nicole, people's victory"
"delight in horses"
"home of the ruler/power"
"delight, exuberance"
"home ruler (as short for Harriet/Henrietta)"
"noble, of noble kind"
"wisdom"
"culturally associated with grace and strength via Patrick Swayze"
"the beloved one"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Lanie — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Old French (via Helen) origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Lanie.
Rhythm: Lanie is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.