Leslie sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Lesley, Wesley, and Bexley are the closest matches by sound. Most share Leslie's Scottish cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"garden of hollies, holly garden"
"letter Z sound"
"small dwelling, storage chest"
"strength of God, God is my strength"
"ease, wealth"
"descendant of the spirited one"
"lordly, masterful"
"free man"
"scholar, teacher (from Dutch Schuyler)"
"prince, royal heir"
"creative phonetic variant of Kaizen"
"writing feather, quill pen"
"beloved, dear one"
"one who drives or operates wheels"
"of the Titans, giant"
"broad ford, wide river crossing"
"hazel tree"
"one who strikes, striker"
"free man's town"
"valley dweller"
"calm, serene"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Leslie — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Scottish Gaelic origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Leslie.
Rhythm: Leslie is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.