Malea sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Malia, Malea, and Amelia are the closest matches by sound. Most share Malea's Hawaiian cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"calm, peaceful waters"
"personal magnetism, compelling charm"
"she who lives"
"from the salmon's lake (by etymology)"
"tender, gentle (like the linden tree)"
"noble kind"
"exalted by God"
"halo of the moon, moonlit"
"hunter, rising in the sky"
"ingenious hero"
"raven meadow, brave one"
"sword meadow"
"flowing from God"
"son of Roy, descendant of the king"
"cinnamon, cassia tree"
"the dignity and power of a king or queen"
"of the heavenly sky"
"narrow channel, strait"
"city of light, Varanasi"
"thorny plant, wild rose"
"child of heaven, celestial child"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Malea — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hawaiian Malia origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Malea.
Rhythm: Malea is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.