Shelton sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Sheldon, Dalton, and Colton are the closest matches by sound. Most share Shelton's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"from the ledge farm, shelf settlement"
"fortified dwelling"
"of the mountain, from the mountain"
"bear man, noble bear"
"God is gracious (via Sean)"
"fragrant spice"
"flood tide, abundance"
"Yahweh is gracious"
"woodland clearing"
"born of the ocean wave"
"prosperous friend"
"from Texas"
"born on Sunday (in some traditions)"
"bearer of Christ, Christ-carrier"
"to sing, to shout (via Jaron/Yaron)"
"strong and enduring as oak wood"
"enduring, steadfast"
"God is my help"
"pilgrim, traveler, foreigner"
"person of no importance (archaic)"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Shelton — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Old English origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Shelton.
Rhythm: Shelton is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.