Nilson sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Nelson, Nilsson, and Nils are the closest matches by sound. Most share Nilson's Scandinavian cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"Son of Nils (Neil); son of the champion"
"healer, one who heals"
"very blue, sapphire"
"Wealthy, prosperous warrior"
"noble strength"
"new house"
"occupational surname turned first name"
"from the southern lands"
"possibly from Celtic 'avon' (river)"
"hilltop lake"
"from the lake"
"priest's estate"
"invented modern name; no historical meaning"
"absence of subjection or constraint"
"He whom Yahweh remembered"
"love's path"
"to tame (via Damian root)"
"peaceful ruler"
"God is gracious"
"creative combination name"
"Settlement near the well"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Nilson — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Old Norse/Scandinavian origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Nilson.
Rhythm: Nilson is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.