Ray sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Rey, Rae, and Wray are the closest matches by sound. Most share Ray's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"wise protector"
"from the city of Dax"
"ruler of the world"
"Hugh's settlement, town"
"song, singing bird"
"settlement at the inhospitable place"
"church official, rule of law"
"gray-haired one"
"gift"
"little warrior, young Mars"
"meadow, woodland clearing"
"may God protect"
"first zodiac sign, new beginnings"
"noble eagle (adal + aro)"
"dark blue water"
"God's helper (ezer + El)"
"made by God"
"estate of the fifth son"
"pledge, security deposit"
"scholar"
"to heal (from iasthai)"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Ray — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Germanic origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Ray.
Rhythm: Ray is a 1-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.