Mae sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — May, Maye, and Mei are the closest matches by sound. Most share Mae's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"pearl"
"hardworking, industrious"
"grey fortress, grey enclosure"
"short form of Cleopatra: glory of the father"
"torch of light"
"woman from Magdala"
"beautiful voice"
"from India, the Indus River"
"member of the Gauts (Germanic tribe)"
"graceful waterfall"
"made of gold, golden"
"the largest, supreme"
"bent river"
"little ruler, impulsive one"
"little king"
"pure, clear"
"from the bogs near the Roe river"
"she who brings happiness"
"sea of bitterness"
"crooked nose"
"Ceol's island, ship island"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Mae — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek via Latin origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Mae.
Rhythm: Mae is a 1-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.