Shay sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Shae, Shaye, 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
"stately, admirable"
"to ascend, exalted"
"sorrow, regret"
"son of Maud"
"dear, beloved, darling"
"little dark one, dark-complexioned"
"dear to Saturn"
"judge, arbiter"
"hillside lake, brae near the loch"
"love comes"
"robin bird, red-breasted songbird"
"heather clearing"
"grace, mercy"
"quiet, tranquil, peaceful"
"little deer, from the deep"
"helper, protector"
"God has favored me"
"wise, knowing"
"healthy, whole (heil)"
"she who entangles men"
"bearer of Christ (from Christopher)"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Shay — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Old 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.