Leslie sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Lesley, Leslee, and Kesley 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
"grey fortress, grey enclosure"
"fate, predetermined course"
"modern invented name (Jay + lani)"
"sea of bitterness"
"chalk wharf, chalk port"
"unhappy, unlucky one"
"child of the fair one"
"free woman, song of joy"
"meadow clearing, heath clearing"
"God has helped"
"heavenly, exalted, high"
"sea ruler"
"from the pasture land"
"lioness"
"royal power, wise ruler"
"night, twilight"
"delight"
"lake, waterfall (from Lynn)"
"rule, sovereignty"
"origin, beginning, creation"
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.