Malaika sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Malika, Makayla, and Malaika are the closest matches by sound. Most share Malaika's Arabic-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"angel; messenger of God"
"faith, belief"
"gentle, serene"
"light, luminous"
"my lady (title)"
"happiness, bliss"
"eternal, immortal"
"princess, noble one"
"dew of God"
"Guidance, right path"
"mountain goat, ibex (wild and graceful)"
"hope, aspiration"
"gentle evening breeze"
"the radiant city (reference to Medina)"
"approval, acceptance"
"radiance, brilliance, splendor"
"purpose, goal"
"conscience, inner self"
"clever, talented"
"divine loving-kindness"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Malaika — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Arabic via Swahili origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Malaika.
Rhythm: Malaika is a 4-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.