Melinda sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Linda, Belinda, and Malinda are the closest matches by sound. Most share Melinda's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"honey, sweet"
"court dweller"
"princess, noble one"
"life-giving water from the sky"
"one who works with dough"
"of divine nature, heavenly, godlike"
"from the sky, heavenly"
"derived from a surname of uncertain French origin"
"grace combined with woodland clearing"
"daydream, pleasant fantasy"
"new star, stellar explosion"
"moon"
"Pure, clear"
"one of the Goths, a Goth's descendant"
"pleasure, rejuvenation"
"heavenly, divine"
"grace, favor"
"cheerful, glad"
"work, industrious"
"loan, gift"
"to flourish, to thrive"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Melinda — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Melinda.
Rhythm: Melinda is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.