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"
"mighty with a spear (ger + wald)"
"bright, sparkling (phonetic association)"
"God is gracious, gift of God"
"child of light"
"joy, happiness, gladness"
"courageous, spirited (from Irish Raghallach)"
"other, foreign"
"dark beauty"
"life's path, adventure"
"lioness"
"from the hollow, dweller in the hollow"
"paradise, heavenly bliss"
"fairy palace, fairy mound"
"free woman, strong woman"
"beloved"
"passionate, spirited"
"descendant of the dark challenger"
"sunshine, happiness"
"wind, gust"
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.