Rayner sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Rainer, Raylan, and Rayne are the closest matches by sound. Most share Rayner's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"wise counsel and army"
"eager enthusiasm"
"thicket, small wood"
"one who fights in combat"
"dwellers in wooded hills"
"mountain of strength, exalted"
"son of Will"
"one who lives by hawthorn bushes"
"gift of God"
"modern variant of Dawson"
"spirited, broad"
"from the clearing"
"iron blazing, battle warrior"
"small fort"
"the greatest"
"sharp, precise, swift (symbolic interpretation)"
"elder, presider"
"from Denmark, a Dane"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Rayner — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Germanic origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Rayner.
Rhythm: Rayner is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.