Shanaya sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Sanaya, Shania, and Shanaia are the closest matches by sound. Most share Shanaya's Indian-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"first ray of the sun"
"the infinite sky, cosmic mother"
"protector, wind of summer"
"gate to paradise"
"sacred vow, commitment"
"skilled, expert, proficient"
"patience, fortitude"
"first ray of sun"
"another name for Parvati, the mother goddess"
"walking, moving"
"Goddess Saraswati, divine wisdom"
"jasmine flower"
"worthy of worship"
"the remotest (reference to Al-Aqsa Mosque)"
"beautiful, charming, delightful"
"noble, respectable"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Shanaya — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Sanskrit origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Shanaya.
Rhythm: Shanaya is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.