Lincoln sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Landon, Lyndon, and Griffin are the closest matches by sound. Most share Lincoln's Old English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"lake colony, settlement by the pool"
"divine reward"
"guide, wide"
"he who carries the heavens"
"servant of Jesus"
"crooked nose"
"meadow dwelling, water meadow"
"my God is Yahweh"
"growth, abundance (speculative)"
"hay valley, hedged valley"
"light, bringer of light"
"of the forest"
"anointed one"
"descendant of Nuallán"
"thankful one"
"sun, throne"
"park, game preserve"
"son of David"
"group, team, company of people"
"son of Madoc"
"little fire"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Lincoln — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Old English origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Lincoln.
Rhythm: Lincoln is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.