Nels sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Neil, Niels, and Nels are the closest matches by sound. Most share Nels's Scandinavian cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"champion, cloud"
"bearer of Christ, Christ-carrier"
"supplanter, one who follows"
"strawberry grower"
"victory of the people"
"to bind, captivate (from Rebecca root)"
"from the Bexton place"
"village near a winding path"
"deep red, the color red"
"rich in friendship"
"variant of Avery: elf ruler"
"place name origin: a hundred in Cornwall, England"
"crew, group, social organization"
"who is like God? (rhetorical, meaning no one)"
"prince, commander"
"spear"
"winter season"
"elder tree island"
"a days work or travel"
"true, faithful, loyal"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Nels — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Irish Gaelic via Scandinavian origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Nels.
Rhythm: Nels is a 1-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.