Malena sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Magdalena, Elena, and Melena are the closest matches by sound. Most share Malena's Spanish-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"tower, elevated place"
"earth, land, soil"
"my love"
"my God has answered"
"gift"
"snow"
"sparkling, clear gem"
"nickname of affection for G-names"
"follower of Christ"
"beautiful lion"
"God is gracious"
"one, unity"
"of the Sabine people"
"of the sun, sunlit"
"born in June, of the Junia clan"
"high tower"
"bright, shining one"
"fine art, artistry"
"port, harbor"
"foreign, true"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Malena — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hebrew origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Malena.
Rhythm: Malena is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.