Magdalena sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Magdalene, Madeline, and Madeleine are the closest matches by sound. Most share Magdalena's Spanish-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"woman from Magdala"
"from the city of Troy (Ilium)"
"meadow, open ground"
"peaceful, safe"
"pure"
"grace, favor, sweetness"
"pure, innocent"
"strong, vigorous"
"youthful, downy-bearded"
"wise child, elder sister"
"free woman"
"gracious, merciful"
"animal horns"
"pure"
"honey bee + youthful (blend with Melissa)"
"torch, beacon"
"to strive, to rival, to excel"
"reference to Our Lady of Ainhoa (the Virgin Mary)"
"sunny place, sunshine"
"queen of orchids (named after William Cattley)"
"woman from Mount Cynthus"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Magdalena — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hebrew Migdal (tower) origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Magdalena.
Rhythm: Magdalena is a 4-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.