Ren sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Wren, Ben, and Ken are the closest matches by sound. Most share Ren's Japanese cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"lotus, water lily"
"free man"
"all wise (from Norse Alviss)"
"conqueror, victor"
"God-like"
"divine reward (alternate interpretation)"
"God has heard (via Samuel)"
"victory of the people"
"gift of God"
"wolf counsel"
"meditation, absorption"
"supplanter, one who follows at the heel"
"gift of God"
"elf warrior"
"Basque masculine name, nature-connected"
"sun"
"village of the cross, farm by the cross"
"son of Nicholas, victory of the people"
"bearer of Christ"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Ren — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Japanese origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Ren.
Rhythm: Ren is a 1-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.