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"
"rowan tree (mountain ash)"
"follower of Christ"
"warrior, strong man"
"handsome, beautiful"
"son of the sea"
"earth"
"narrow road, path"
"strength, dominance"
"stoneworker, bricklayer"
"keeper of the game preserve"
"unity; the best; one"
"one who lives by the river"
"derived from Calvus, bald"
"hunter"
"dove"
"battle worthy"
"consecrated; worthy of reverence"
"teacher, messenger"
"crooked, enclosed valley"
"growth, abundance (speculative)"
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.