Nikolay sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Nikolai, Nicholas, and Nicola are the closest matches by sound. Most share Nikolay's Russian-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"victory of the people"
"dawn, golden morning"
"defender of mankind"
"bear (affectionate)"
"defender of the people"
"world, community"
"fire-given"
"peaceful ruler"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Nikolay — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Nikolay.
Rhythm: Nikolay is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.