Shay sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Shae, Shea, and Jay are the closest matches by sound. Most share Shay's Irish-rooted cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"admirable, hawk-like"
"variant of Pruitt, meaning valiant"
"flowing water, river"
"steps over a fence or wall"
"otherwise known as, alternate name"
"of the forest, woodland"
"pledge, oath"
"from the hazel tree settlement"
"overseer, tenant farmer"
"metalworker, blacksmith"
"green river, fresh water"
"crooked hill"
"hero of God"
"forest"
"king, lord of the people"
"path to the sea"
"of the Sabine people"
"ruler of peace"
"supplanter, one who replaces another"
"wolf's shield"
"settlement by the ash trees"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Shay — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Irish origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Shay.
Rhythm: Shay is a 1-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.