Maelys sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Maelis, Amelie, and Maeve are the closest matches by sound. Most share Maelys's French-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"chief; prince; leader"
"joyful, playful one"
"sea of bitterness or star of the sea"
"gift of God"
"mercy, compassion, grace"
"golden one, radiant"
"lily, pure, innocent"
"loved one"
"alive, lively"
"God is gracious"
"defender of the people"
"son of Owen"
"strong in battle"
"industrious, hardworking"
"bright pledge, noble guarantee"
"pledged to God (via Susannah)"
"fair, blessed, holy"
"good messenger"
"beautiful friend"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Maelys — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Celtic/Breton origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Maelys.
Rhythm: Maelys is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.