Mahdi sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Mehdi, Madhi, and Madi are the closest matches by sound. Most share Mahdi's Arabic-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"one guided by God"
"throne"
"pure, righteous (as a title of the Prophet)"
"eternal, immortal, everlasting"
"jewel, gem"
"the Arabic form of Jesus"
"descendant of Prophet Muhammad"
"manifest, apparent, visible"
"the commended one"
"wish, longing, desire"
"the prophet Jonah"
"elf friend, noble friend"
"strong and excellent"
"exalted, high, noble"
"from the moon"
"ancestor of northern Arab tribes"
"dark-haired"
"baby bustard (young bird)"
"man of peace, peaceful one"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Mahdi — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Arabic origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Mahdi.
Rhythm: Mahdi is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.