Mai sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — May, Mae, and Mei are the closest matches by sound. Most share Mai's Japanese cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"apricot blossom, yellow flower"
"moon, palm of hand"
"noble, exalted, high"
"night rain"
"grace, favor"
"free woman"
"crystal, clear as ice"
"morning light, forenoon"
"belonging to the night"
"light, luminance"
"rock, pause and reflect"
"short form of Miranda, worthy of admiration"
"precious gift"
"best friend, confidante"
"anointed one"
"early life, beautiful weaving"
"mistress, goddess"
"worthy, deserving"
"tender affection, compassion"
"lily flower"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Mai — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Vietnamese origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Mai.
Rhythm: Mai is a 1-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.