Mali sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Molly, Malia, and Mally are the closest matches by sound. Most share Mali's African-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"jasmine flower"
"shining one, star"
"from Wales, land of the Cymry"
"from Devon, the deep places"
"pearl; precious gem"
"supplanter, one who follows"
"moonlit, bright as the moon"
"from the oak, wise one"
"white phantom, fair spirit"
"beautiful, lovely"
"white shadow, fair phantom"
"from Cymru (Wales)"
"queen of the gods (variant of Juno)"
"moon, moonlight"
"blessed, fair one"
"heavenly one, of the gods"
"joy, happiness"
"pure"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Mali — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Thai origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Mali.
Rhythm: Mali is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.