Serena sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Sienna, Serene, and Selena are the closest matches by sound. Most share Serena's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"tranquil, serene, clear"
"poppy flower"
"favored by Yahweh"
"creative modern coinage"
"short form of names ending in -lia"
"great, noble (from botanist's surname)"
"modern coinage blending Jay and Kayla"
"sawmill worker"
"life; living; breath"
"moon"
"each of the two"
"person from Scotland"
"tribe woman; woman of the people"
"night"
"grace, favor"
"very sacred, utterly pure"
"pure (via Kayla from Michaela)"
"young green plant, fresh growth of spring"
"black, dark-colored"
"oak tree clearing"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Serena — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Latin origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Serena.
Rhythm: Serena is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.