Makena sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — McKenna, Makenna, and Makena are the closest matches by sound. Most share Makena's Kikuyu-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"the happy one"
"well-born (short form of Luigina/Giovanna)"
"starry, relating to stars"
"bright fame"
"mistress, noblewoman"
"slender and fair"
"fair-haired hero"
"esteemed, beloved"
"lively, vigorous"
"from the riverbank and lake"
"hawk-like"
"bright village"
"promise, saying"
"heavenly flowers, lei of heaven"
"beautiful"
"pure, crown (from Kayla)"
"reborn + meadow/clearing (Ren + Lee)"
"derived from a surname of uncertain French origin"
"noble, of noble kind"
"blonde, yellow-haired"
"of the Latins"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Makena — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Kikuyu origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Makena.
Rhythm: Makena is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.