Nilan sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Nolan, Niall, and Milan are the closest matches by sound. Most share Nilan's Indian-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"blue, sky-colored"
"completely free, unbound"
"king of the sky/air"
"joyful, radiant"
"capable, skilled, expert"
"one who grants blessings"
"distinguished, brilliant"
"fearless, without fear"
"satisfied, content, quenched"
"northeast direction, auspicious"
"the North Star, Polaris"
"divine vitality, life force"
"boundless, without measure"
"knowledge, sacred wisdom"
"essence, nature, world"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Nilan — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Tamil origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Nilan.
Rhythm: Nilan is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.