Rei sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Ray, Rae, and Rey are the closest matches by sound. Most share Rei's Japanese cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"gratitude, courtesy, bow"
"rare, precious thread"
"gift of grace, divine favor"
"bright one"
"salty, of the sea"
"life"
"beautiful, harmonious"
"royal, chiefly, of noble rank"
"elegant, lovely"
"flourishing, prosperous"
"queen"
"dear little rose (diminutive)"
"divine, moon goddess"
"grace + God is my oath (Anna + Lisa)"
"lovely, graceful"
"warm cloak (Roman garment)"
"holy little one"
"light, shining"
"beloved, wished-for child"
"lady, noblewoman"
"lady, noblewoman"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Rei — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Japanese (礼) origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Rei.
Rhythm: Rei is a 1-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.