Maelani sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Meilani, Melanie, and Leilani are the closest matches by sound. Most share Maelani's Hawaiian cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"heavenly flower"
"God is gracious"
"strong, manly (via Andrew from Greek Andreas)"
"fiery, impetuous"
"ember (glowing fire)"
"God is gracious (Jane)"
"pure"
"lake (from -lynn element)"
"of the Adriatic region"
"the Lord sees"
"modern invention combining Ana + Nyla"
"heavenly, of the sky"
"meadow, clearing"
"modern coined name"
"a day's travel, voyage"
"beloved"
"from the great river settlement"
"red rose"
"night"
"graceful, heavenly one"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Maelani — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hawaiian origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Maelani.
Rhythm: Maelani is a 4-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.