Nia sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Mia, Tia, and Lia are the closest matches by sound. Most share Nia's Welsh cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"brightness, lustrous"
"gift of God (variant of Maisie/Matthew)"
"blooming flower, radiance"
"bright village"
"strong, manly"
"strong-headed, determined"
"thorny shrub, bramble"
"meadow dwelling"
"child of the fair one"
"bright woodland"
"ascent, going up"
"resolute protection, strong-willed guardian"
"may God protect"
"free person"
"she, her"
"the flowing river"
"messenger"
"reddish-brown earth color"
"foreign woman, stranger"
"exultant, glad"
"free woman"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Nia — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Welsh origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Nia.
Rhythm: Nia is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.